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ARCHIVES  OF 

THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

I 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 
GENERAL  CONVENTION 

EDITED  BY  ORDER  OF 
THE  COMMISSION  ON  ARCHIVES 

BY 

ARTHUR  LOWNDES 

DOCTOR  IN    DIVINITY 


VOLUME  I 

THE  CORRESPONDENCE  OF 

JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

1757-1797 


NEW  YORK 
PRIVATELY  PRINTED 

MDCCCCXI 


\ 


Publisher  G. 
OCT  9     191 1 


THE  COMMISSION  ON  ARCHIVES 

May,    1911 

The  Right  Reverend  JFilliam  Croswell  Doane,  D.D. 
The  Right  Reverend  JVilliam  Lawrence,  D.D. 
The  Right  Reverend  David  Hummell  Greer,  D.D. 

The  Reverend  Alfred  Brittin  Baker,  D.D. 

The  Reverend  Samuel  Hart,  D.D. 

The  Reverend  George  Yemens  Bliss,  D.D. 

J .  Pierpont  Morgan,  LL.D. 
Asa  Bird  Gardiner,  LL.D. 
James  Grant  JFilson,  L.H.D. 

SUB-COMMITTEE  ON   PUBLICATION 

The  Reverend  Samuel  Hart,  D.D. 
J .  Pierpont  Morgan,  LL.D. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Volume  I 

PAGE 

THE  ARCHIVES  OF  THE   GENERAL  CONVENTION  xi 

THE  COMMISSION   ON   CHURCH  ARCHIVES,  1868-1883  xci 

THE  COMMISSION  ON   ARCHIVES,  1892-1911  xcii 

PREFACE  xcv 

JOHN   HENRY   HOBART  xcix 

BISHOP   HOBART  AND   HIS   DESCENDANTS  cc 

BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  BISHOP   HOBART's  WORKS  ccv 

CHRONOLOGICAL   INDEX  TO  LETTERS,  1757-1797  ccxi 

THE  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  JOHN    HENRY   HOBART  3 

ALPHABETICAL   INDEX  TO  LETTERS,  1757-1797  351 

ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  ANNOTATIONS  355 

LIST  OF  BOOKS  REFERRED  TO  361 

INDEX  371 


THE  ARCHIVES  OF 
THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE  ARCHIVES  OF  THE  GENERAL 
CONVENTION 

TO  the  Churchmen  of  Connecticut  belongs  the  honour  of  being 
the  first  to  realize  the  importance  of  gathering  material  for 
the  history  of  the  Church  in  America. 
In  1804  "The  Churchman's  Monthly  Magazine"  was  established 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Convocation  of  the  Clergv  of  the  Diocese. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Smith,  then  principal  of  the  Episcopal  Acad- 
emy at  Cheshire,  became  the  first  editor.  He  sought  to  fill  the  pages 
of  the  magazine  with  articles  giving  information  upon  the  doctrines 
and  practices  of  the  Church,  upon  devotional  themes,  and  the  cur- 
rent events  in  the  Church.  He  also  requested  that  sketches  of  the  vari- 
ous parishes  in  Connecticut  might  be  compiled  and  sent  for  insertion. 
The  first  sketch  which  was  printed  was  upon  Fairfield.*  Subsequently 
many  others  appeared,  not  only  of  Connecticut  churches,  but  of  those 
in  various  parts  of  New  England.  In  the  third  volume  was  com- 
menced the  publication  of  "Original  Documents"  concerning  the 
election  and  consecration  of  Dr.  Seabury.  As  manv  of  the  documents 
themselves  have  now  disappeared,  their  printed  form  is  our  only  source 
for  ti-eating  the  history  of  the  period.  Thev  were  followed  by  docu- 
ments concerning  the  election  and  consecration  of  Dr.  White  and  Dr. 
Provoost,  and  other  papers  concerning  Bishop  Seabury. f  In  the  In- 
troduction to  the  second  series,  entitled  "American  Episcopate,"  the 
editor  says  :  ' '  To  illustrate  the  history  of  the  Church  in  this  country, 
and  transmit  to  posterity  a  knowledge  of  her  earl\-  and  present  state, 
is  part  of  our  design."  J  In  1810  and  1811  a  selection  from  the  ex- 
tensive correspondence  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  of  Stratford, 

*  The  Churchman's  Monthly  Magazine,  vol.  i,  February,  1804,  No.  2,  pp.  29-32. 

\The  Churchman  s  Magazine,  1806,  vol.  iii,  Nos.  3,4,  5,  6,  7,  March,  April,  May,  June,  and 

July,  pp.  1 1  i-i  15-160  ;  192-196;  237-238  j  276-278. 

X  The  Churchman's  Magazine,  1807,  vol.  iv,  p.  37.  January  series  will  be  found  on  pp.  37,  39  ; 

77-80  ;ii  6- Ii9;i5i-i55;i95- 198;  233-237.  Vol.  iv,  January,  February,  March,  April,  May, 

and  June. 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

Connecticut,  and  the  first  president  of  King's  College,  New  York,  was 
published.* 

Many  articles  of  permanent  historical  value  are  found  in  the  pages 
of  the  first  series  of  the  magazine,  which  ended  with  the  issue  for  No- 
vember and  December,  1811.  The  first  dealing  with  any  portion  of 
the  history  of  the  Church  in  America  was  ' '  The  Life  of  Samuel  John- 
son, D.D.,  theFirstPresidentof  King's  College. "This  had  been  pre- 
paredby  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler  of  Elizabeth  Town, 
New  Jersey,  a  pupil  and  friend  of  the  illustrious  doctor,  soon  after  his 
death  in  1772,  and  largely  from  material  furnished  by  Dr.  Johnson 
himself.  Prudential  reasons  made  the  family  defer  the  publication 
of  the  draft  submitted  to  them.  Dr.  Chandler  intended  to  make  alter- 
ations and  additions  whenever  it  was  thought  best  to  print  a  Life. 
When  he  sought  refuge  in  England  in  1775  he  carried  the  manu- 
script with  him,  and  brought  it  back  upon  his  return  in  1785.  As 
President  William  Samuel  Johnson  of  Columbia  College  was  not 
prepared  to  publish  it,  the  manuscript  remained  in  the  hands  of  Dr. 
Chandler.  Happily  it  was  preserved  when  a  timid  friend  suggested 
the  destruction  of  Dr.  Chandler's  papers.  Mr.  Hobart,  his  son-in-law, 
finding  it,  and  reading  it  over,  perceived  its  value,  and  published  it 
in  1 805, t  without  abridgement  or  alteration,  adding,  however,  some 
interesting  letters  to  Dr.  Johnson.  In  his  "Advertisement,"  which 
takes  the  place  of  a  preface  and  is  unsigned,  Mr.  Hobart  says:  "How- 
ever humble  may  be  the  early  annals  of  this  country,  they  should 
be  interesting  to  every  American;  and  whatever  tends  to  throw  light 
upon  them  should  be  deemed  worthy  of  preservation."  J  With  the 
same  desire  to  seek  out  historic  information,  he  requested  his  friend, 

•  The  Churchman's  Magazine,  1810,  vol.  vii,  January,  February,  March,  April,  May,  June,  July, 

August,  September,  Oflober,  November,  December,  pp.  38-43  ;  78-93  ;  224-229  ;  306-3 17;  407- 

517.  Vol.  viii,  181 1,  January,  February,  March,  April,  May,  June,  July,  and  August, pp.  13-19  ; 

99-105;  183-194;  211-220. 

t  The  Life  of  Samuel  Johnson,  D.D.,  the  first  President  of  Kings  Colkge  in  Neiv  York,  by 

Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  D.D.  New  York  :  Printed  by  T.  &  J.  Swords,  No.  1 60  Pearl  Street, 

7805. 

X  Life  —  unpaged. 

[    Xii    ^ 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

Mr.  Charles  Fenton  Mercer,  when  he  visited  England  in  1802,  to  call 
upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Boucher,  vicar  of  Epsom  in  Surrey,  formerly  of 
Maryland. 

To  the  American  edition  of  "Rees'  Encyclopaedia,"  published  in 
Philadelphia  by  Samuel  F.  Bradford  from  1806  to  1808,  Bishop 
White  contributed  many  articles  upon  theological  and  historical  sub- 
jects.* In  his  desire  for  an  accurate  view  of  the  origin,  organization, 
and  growth  of  the  Church  in  America,  he  wrote,  from  his  abundant 
knowledge,  the  first  historical  sketch  of  it  for  that  work.  This  prob- 
ably gave  him  the  idea  of  a  fuller  view  of  the  events  in  which  he  had 
taken  such  an  effective  part.  Twelve  years  later  appeared  that  inval- 
uable work,  "Memoirs  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church."  Only  a 
few  months  before  his  death  on  July  17,  1836,  a  revised  and  enlarged 
edition  was  issued.  It  was  republished  nearly  thirty  years  ago  under 
the  editorship  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  DeCosta,  a  well-known  his- 
torical scholar, t  as  "Memoirs  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  White,  D.D. 
New  York:  E.  P.  Dutton  &Co.,  1880." 

In  the  same  year,  1820,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  Dalcho  issued  the 
first  diocesan  history,  that  of  South  Carolina.  It  was  a  carefully  com- 
piled account  of  the  general  history  of  the  Church  in  the  state,  the 
various  parishes  and  the  names  of  their  incumbents,  and  included 
a  reprint  of  the  Journals  of  the  Convention.  J 

The  first  action  bv  the  General  Convention  was  taken  in  1820.  On 


*  In  1728  Ephraim  Chambers  published  his  Cyclopaedia,  or  an  Universal  Diftionary  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,  in  two  volumes,  folio.  It  was  the  most  comprehensive  work  of  the  kind  which 
had  ever  appeared.  It  went  through  several  editions,  the  sixth  and  last  being  that  of  1751-52. 
In  1753  a  supplement  was  issued  in  two  volumes,  tolio. 

The  Rev.  Abraham  Rees,  a  native  of  Montgomeiyshire,  Scotland,  bom  in  1743,  and  for  forty 
years,  until  his  death  in  1825,  minister  of  the  Unitarian  congregation  worshipping  in  an  old 
chapel  in  Old  Jewry,  London,  prepared  on  the  basis  of  the  work  of  Chambers  a  Cyclopaedia 
which  was  issued  in  parts  from  1778  to  1788.  It  long  remained  standard,  and  was  published 
frequently  in  revised  editions. 

t  Philadelphia  :  S.  Potter  &  Co.,  1820,  pp.  xv,  4.74. 

XAn  Historical  Account  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  m  South  Carolina,  by  Frederick 
Dalcho,  M.D.  Charleston,  1820. 

C  xiii  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

Wednesday,  May  24,  Mr.  Samuel  Sitgrea\es,  a  prominent  laj-man 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  founder  of  Trinity  Church,  Easton,  offered  in 
the  House  of  Deputies  a  resolution  "that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kemper,*  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Boyd,t  and  Thomas  McEuen,  Esq., J  be  a  Committee  on 
the  part  of  this  House,  in  conjunction  \\ith  a  Committee  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  House  of  Bishops,  should  that  House  agree  thereto, 
to  make  a  collection  of  the  Journals  of  the  General  Convention,  and  of 
the  several  Diocesan  Conventions,  and  of  the  important  Documents, 
connected  A\ith  the  History  of  the  Church  of  the  United  States ;  and 
to  deposit  the  same,  subject  to  the  disposal  of  the  General  Convention, 
in  such  hands  as  may  be  deemed  proper,  for  the  present,  and  until  a 
further  order  of  the  Convention."  §  The  House  of  Bishops  "concurred 
in  a  resolution  to  collect  the  Journals,  &c.,  proposed  by  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,"  and  appointed  the  Presiding  Bishop || 
a  committee  for  the  purpose  on  the  part  of  this  House. 

At  the  General  Convention  of  1823,  the  report  of  the  committee 
was  presented  in  the  House  of  Bishops  on  May  24,  and  this  action 
taken  :  "Resolved  that  the  House  of  Bishops  approve  of  the  disposi- 
tion made  of  the  documents  by  the  said  Committee,  and  that  they 
be  requested  to  continue  their  services  in  procuring  such  other  docu- 
ments as  may  be  practicable."  Tj  In  the  House  of  Deputies  on  Sat- 
urday, May  24,  ' '  a  message  was  received  from  the  House  of  Bishops, 
with  a  report  of  a  joint  Committee,  appointed  at  the  last  General 
Convention,  to  collect  documents  and  pamphlets,  interesting  to  the 
Church,  together  with  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Bishops  on  the  same 
subject.  The  report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  the  resolution  con- 
curred in,  and  notice  of  concurrence  sent  to  the  House  of  Bishops."  ** 

*  The  Rev.  Jackson  Kemper,  assistant  minister  of  Christ  Church,  St.  Peter's  and  St.  James's 

Church,  Philadelphia. 

t  The  Rev.  George  Boyd,  reftor  of  St.  John's  Church,  Northern  Liberties,  Philadelphia. 

I  A  lay  deputy  from  Pennsylvania. 

fj  Journal  of  the  General  Corfvention,  1820,  p.  40. 

II  The  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  White. 

^  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  182;,  p.  63. 
**  Ibid.,  p.  47  ;  Perry,  Reprint,  1874,  vol.  ii,  p.  51. 

I   xiv  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

It  will  be  of  interest  to  read  this  first  official  utterance  of  the  Ameri- 
can Church  upon  its  history  : 

Report  of  a  joint  Committee^  appointed  by  the  General  Convention  of 
1820,  in  relation  to  the  pmcunng  of  documents  interesting  to  the  Church. 

The  joint  Committee  appointed  by  the  Convention  of  1820,  to  make 
a  collection  of  the  Journals  of  the  General  Conventions,  and  of  the 
several  Diocesan  Conventions,  and  of  other  important  documents  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States ;  and  to 
deposit  the  same,  subject  to  the  disposal  of  the  General  Convention, 
in  such  hands  as  may  be  deemed  proper,  beg  leave  to 

REPORT 

That  they  have  been  enabled  to  collect  the  greater  part  of  the  docu- 
ments they  were  required  to  obtain,  which  they  have  deposited  in 
the  library  of  St.  James's  Church,  Philadelphia,  under  the  care  of  the 
Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Christianity  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  Committee  recommend  that  all  the  documents  thus  collected 
be  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Society,  in  whose  library  they  are 
now  deposited ;  and  that  the  Bishops  and  the  Secretaries  of  conven- 
tions and  other  members  of  the  Church,  be  requested  to  forward  to 
the  librarian  of  the  said  Society  copies  of  all  publications  connected 
with  the  history  of  the  Church  in  America  not  jet  procured  by  the 
Committee,  and  all  \\hich  may  hereafter  be  published ;  provided  that 
the  Trustees  of  the  said  Society  will  take  charge  of  the  above  docu- 
ments, and  submit  them  at  all  times  to  the  inspection  of  the  members 
of  the  General  Convention. 

The  accompanying  papers,  {marked  A  B'\,  contain  a  list  of  those 
documents  that  have  been  obtained,  and  of  those  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Committee,  it  is  desirable  to  possess. 

William  White, 
George  Boyd, 

Jackson  Kemper. 
May  23d,  1823. 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

(A) 
List  oj'  Documents 
The  Committee  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  beg  leave  to 
state,  that  they  are  almost  entirely  indebted  to  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
White  for  the  Journals  and  other  valuable  papers  they  have  obtained, 
i.  An  account  in  MS.  of  the  first  meetings  of  Committees  for  or- 
ganizing the  Church.  On  this  MS.  there  is  written  as  follows:  "I  de- 
posit this  w  ith  the  Committee  of  the  General  Convention  for  collect- 
ing Journals — it  being  the  original  record  of  the  first  steps  taken  for 
the  organizing  of  the  Episcopal  Church  throughout  the  Union. 

"William  White. 

"Oftober  30,  I  82  I." 

2.  A  collection  in  writing  from  the  records  of  the  office  of  the  Bishop 
of  London,  relative  to  the  Church  in  this  country.  The  following 
statement  is  given  on  the  co\er  of  the  book :  "This  manuscript  was 
copied  from  the  records  of  the  office  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  by 
the  Rev.  Alexander  Murray,  who  had  been  Missionary  in  Pennsyl- 
vania before  the  Revolution.  He  went  to  England  during  the  war. 
When  measures  began  to  be  taken  for  the  organizing  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  he  began  a  correspondence  with  me,  and  transmitted 
some  information  which  \Aas  important,  and  had  an  effect  on  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  General  Convention  held  in  1785.  On  my  arrival  in 
England  with  Bishop  Provost,  in  the  latter  end  of  1786,  Dr.  Murray 
communicated  to  us  that  he  had  been  making  such  transcripts  as  the 
following;  but  Me  held  them  entirely  irrele^■ent  to  the  situation  in 
which  we  were,  and  did  not  ask  for  a  perusal  of  them.  Within  a  year 
or  two  after  our  return  to  America,  he  returned,  also,  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  died  in  the  yellow  fever  of  1793. 
Before  his  decease  he  gave  me  the  transcript.  And  I  lav  it  bv,  among 
papers  relative  to  the  Church,  not  knowing  how  far  it  may  hereafter 
be  a  document  gratifying  to  curiosity. 

William  White." 
"June  25th,  1 8 10. 

C  xvi  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

"Oct.  30th,  1821.  I  deposit  this  manuscript  with  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed at  the  last  General  Convention  for  the  collection  of  Journals. 

"William  White." 

3.  A  volume  containing  Journals  of  the  General  Convention  from  the 
year  1785  to  1814,  inclusive,  to  which  are  added  the  Pastoral  Letters 
from  the  House  of  Bishops  for  the  years  1808,  1811,  1814.  On  the 
first  page  of  this  volume  the  following  statement  is  written: 

"This  volume  is  the  only  entire  collection  within  my  knowledge, 
of  the  original  Journals  of  the  General  Convention,  from  the  begin- 
ning, for  the  space  of  thirty  years.  It  may  be  of  use  in  determining 
on  any  questions  which  may  arise  concerning  any  particular  of  the 
republication  of  the  Journals  bv  John  Bioren.  Accordingly  I  deposit 
it  with  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  last  General  Convention  for 
the  collection  of  Journals.  I  also  deposit  with  the  Committee  my  col- 
lection of  the  Journals  of  the  Conventions  in  the  diflerent  States ;  com- 
prehending, I  believe,  almost  all  which  have  been  edited.  Those  for 
several  of  the  States  are  entire. 

William  White." 

"Oftober  30th,  1821." 

In  addition  to  the  Journals  contained  in  this  volume,  the  Committee 
have  obtained  the  Journals  for  1821. 

4.  Journal  of  Massachusetts  for  1790,  and  a  copy  of  the  Constitu- 
tion and  Canons  published  1817. 

5.  Connecticut.  The  Journals  of  1802  and  1803.  The  Journals  from 
1808  to  1821  inclusive.  The  Constitution  printed  in  1821,  and  Bishop 
Brownell's  charge  1821. 

6.  New  York.  Journals  from  1785  to  1791  inclusive.  From  1801  to 
1812  inclusive.  From  1814  to  1816  inclusive.  The  Journals  of  1818, 
1820,  1821,  and  1822.  The  Constitution  and  Canons  in  1812. 

7.  New  Jersey.  Journals  from  1785  to  1798  inclusive.  From  1800 
to  1822  inclusive.  The  address  from  the  President  of  the  Convention 
in  1797.  The  Canons,  Constitution,  &.C.,  printed  in  1811.  The  re- 

C  xvii  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

port  on  the  state  of  the  Church  for  1814.  The  charge  of  the  Bishop 
for  1819. 

8.  Pennsylvania.  Tlie  Journals  from  1785  to  1822  inclusive.  The 
Constitution  and  Canons  printed  in  1822. 

9.  Delaware.  Commenced  in  1791.  The  Journals  from  1791  to  1794 
inclusive.  From  1798  to  1800  inclusive.  The  Journals  of  1810,  1818, 
1821. 

10.  Maryland.  The  Journal  of  1784.  From  1788  to  1800  inclusive. 
From  1802  to  1804,  and  from  1806  to  1819  inclusive.  The  Jour- 
nal of  1821. 

An  address  from  Convention  to  the  vestries  in  1794.  The  Constitu- 
tion and  Canons  printed  in  1802.  Bishop  Kemp's  Address  in  1816. 
The  Pastoral  Letter  from  the  t\vo  Bishops  in  1816.  The  Address  from 
a  Committee  ordered  by  the  Con^'ention  of  1817. 

1 1.  Virginia.  The  Journals  of  1785  to  1787  inclusive.  The  Journals 
of  1789,  1791,  1792,  1794,  1813.  Journal  of  the  special  Convention 
of  1814.  Journals  of  1816,  '18  and  '19. 

An  address  to  the  Convention  by  Bishop  Madison,  without  date. 

12.  North  Carolina.  All  the  Journals  commenced  in  1817. 

13.  South  Carolina.  A  MS.  without  date,  containing  a  proposed 
constitution.  The  Journals  from  1818  to  1822  inclusive. 

14.  Ohio.  Commenced  in  1818.  The  Journals  of  1819,  1820. 

(B) 
Dociimfiits  not  obtained 

General  Convention.  Journals  for  1817,  1820.  Pastoral  letters  for 
1817,  1820.  All  Sermons  before  General  Convention. — Maine.  All. 
—  Massachusetts.  All,  except  1790. — New  Hampshire,  Rhode 
Island,  Vermont,  Eastern  Diocese.  All. — Connecticut.  All  Journals 
before  1802.  Those  from  1804  to  1807  inclusive.  1822.  —New  York. 
The  Journals  from  1792  to  1800  inclusive.  Those  of  1813,  1817, 
1819. — New  Jersey.  The  Journals  for  the  annual  and  special  Con- 
C  xviii  J 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

ventions  of  1799.  —  Delaware.  Journals  from  1795  to  1797  inclu- 
sive. From  1801  to  1809  inclusive.  From  1811  to  1817.  The  Jour- 
nals of  1819,  1820,  1822.  —  Maryland.  Journals  from  1785  to  1787 
inclusive.  And  the  Journals  of  1801,  1805,  1820.  —  Virginia.  Jour- 
nals of  1788,  1790,  1793.  Journals  from  1795  to  1812  inclusive. 
Journals  of  1814,  (not  special)  1815,  1817,  1820,  1821,  1822. 
—  South  Carolina.  Journals  from  the  commencement  to  1817. — 
Georgia.  All.— Ohio.  Begun  with  1818.  The  Journals  of  1818,  1821, 
1822. 
The  Committee  presume  it  would  be  desirable  to  possess,  in  addi- 
tion to  all  the  Journals,  copies  of  all  Pastoral  Letters  and  Charges  and 
of  Sermons  preached  before  Conventions — the  Reports  of  Societies 
connected  with  the  Church  —  copies  of  all  publications  in  which  the 
leading  doctrines  of  the  Church  have  been  defended,  and  particu- 
larly the  Reports  of  the  \enerable  Society  in  England  for  Propagating 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.* 

So  far  as  any  extant  records  show,  no  further  effort  was  made  by 
the  Committee  to  gather  additional  documents,  nor  did  they  consider 
their  work  as  a  permanent  one. 

Soon  after,  two  voung  clergymen  in  the  South  formed  the  ambitious 
design  of  tracing  from  the  earliest  European  settlement  the  influence 
of  the  various  Christian  forces  that  had  united  in  developing  the  civil- 
ization and  character  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  A\as  a  task 
which  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to  accomplish,  for  litde  had  been 
written,  the  documents  available  were  few,  and  the  traditions  vague 
and  unsatisfactory,  with  the  exception  of  New  England.  This,  how- 
ever, did  not  deter  the  Rev.  Francis  Lister  Ha\\ks  of  North  Carolina 
and  the  Rev.  Edward  Rudedge  of  South  Carolina  from  making  their 
contribution  to  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  their  country.  Leaving  for 
the  future  the  larger  and  general  view,  they  gathered  with  great  in- 
dustry documents  and  traditions  concerning  the  work  of  the  Church 

*  Journal  oj  the  General  Convention,  1823,  pp.  69-73  ;  Perry,  Reprint,  1874,  vol.  ii,  pp.  74-77. 

C  xix  J 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

of  England  in  the  Colonies  and  the  records  of  the  various  dioceses 
since  their  organization  in  1789.  The  early  death  of  Mr.  Rutledge, 
a  man  of  singular  sweetness  of  character  and  intellectual  strength, 
left  the  whole  burden  upon  Mr.  Hawks.  His  first  publication  appeared 
in  1836  under  the  title,  "Contributions  to  the  Ecclesiastical  History 
of  the  United  States,  by  Francis  L.  Hawks,  Rector  of  St.  Thomas' 
Church,  New  York,  Vol.  I."  * 

Upon  a  separate  page  was  the  sub-title:  "A  Narrative  of  Events 
connected  with  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  Virginia.  To  which  is  added  an  Appendix  containing  the 
Journals  of  the  Convention  in  Virginia  from  the  commencement  to 
the  present  time." 

In  his  preface  he  explains  the  first  intention  of  the  historians,  which 
was  "to  preserve  in  the  form  of  annals  the  facts  thus  sa\ed  from 
oblivion,  for  the  benefit  of  some  future  historian  who  might  attempt 
a  connected  narrative  of  events,  believed  to  possess  some  interest  at 
least  for  Episcopalians."  As,  however,  "  the  material  was  both  more 
numerous  and  more  valuable  than  had  been  anticipated,"  a  series  of 
volumes,  dealing  with  the  several  dioceses  then  coterminous  with  the 
states,  was  projected. 

It  was  at  the  time  the  volume  upon  Virginia  \\  ent  to  press  that 
Dr.  Hawks,  who  had  found  gaps  in  the  narrative  which  could  not 
be  satisfactorily  filled  by  any  manuscripts  in  this  country,  proposed 
the  appointment  of  some  suitable  agent  authorized  by  the  General 
Convention,  who  should  search  the  archives  at  Lambeth  and  Ful- 
ham  Palaces,  since  the  colonial  clergy  wrote  at  frequent  intervals  to 
their  diocesan,  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury. 

At  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention,  held  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, from  Wednesdav,  August  19,  to  September  1,  1835,  Dr. 
Hawks  presented  this  communication  : 

*New  York:  Published  by  Harper  &  Bros.,  No.  Si  ClitF  Street,  1836.  8vo,  pp.  xvi,  286-332. 
C    XX    ] 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

To  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America, — 

The  undersigned  begs  leave  respectfully  to  invite  the  attention  of 
the  Convention  to  a  subject  important  enough,  as  he  hopes,  to  fur- 
nish a  sufficient  apology  for  the  liberty  which  he  takes  in  addressing 
your  body. 

For  more  than  five  years,  the  individual  who  addresses  you  has  been 
engaged  in  collecting  from  every  source  which  was  accessible  to  him, 
such  materials  as  he  could  procure  for  a  history  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States.  His  efforts  have  been,  he  is 
happy  to  say,  more  successful  than  he  could  reasonably  have  antici- 
pated, but  yet  much  remains  to  be  done.  Every  day's  delay,  however, 
must  increase  the  difficult}-,  and  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  one 
source  of  information  (the  testimony  of  living  witnesses  who  saw  the 
early  struggles  of  the  Church)  will  be  lost  for  ever. 

Under  these  circumstances  an  appeal  is  respectfully  made  to  the  great 
legislative  council  of  the  Church  at  large,  for  its  co-operation  in  sav- 
ing for  those  who  are  to  come  after  us,  all  that  can  now  be  gathered 
of  our  early  ecclesiastical  history. 

As  the  subject  is  one  which  has  occupied  much  of  the  attention  of 
the  undersigned,  he  begs  leave  respectfully  to  suggest  the  oudines 
of  a  plan  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  in  view,  leaving  it  to 
the  wisdom  of  the  Convention  to  modify  or  alter  it  in  any  mode  which 
may  seem  best.  He  earnestly  hopes  that  he  may  not  herein  be  deemed 
guilty  of  the  presumption  of  dictating ;  his  only  wish  is  to  invite  at- 
tention and  secure  efficient  action  upon  a  subject  in  which  we  all  have 
a  common  interest. 

The  plan  submitted  is  as  follows: 

1.  Let  some  individual  be  appointed  by  the  General  Convention  as 
a  collector  and  conservator  of  all  books,  pamphlets,  documents,  manu- 
scripts. Sec,  which  are  connected  with  or  throw  light  upon  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Church  in  any  part  of  our  country  either  in  past  or 

C  xxi  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

present  times.  And  to  tliis  indi\idual,  let  there  be  confided  such  docu- 
ments as  the  Church  already  possesses. 

2.  Let  the  conservator  so  appointed,  have  permission  by  a  vote  of 
the  General  Con\ention  to  ask  i>i  the  name  of  the  Church  at  large,  and 
not  merely  as  an  individual,  for  such  contributions  of  books,  docu- 
ments, &.C.,  both  in  our  own  country  and  elsewhere,  as  \\\\\  further 
the  objects  of  the  Church  in  his  appointment.  It  may  not  be  gener- 
ally known  to  the  members  of  the  Convention,  that  a  large  mass  of 
materials  for  our  colonial  church  history  exists  in  manuscripts  in  Eng- 
land. A  request  from  the  Church  of  this  country  might  procure  what 
would  not  so  readily  be  yielded  to  individual  solicitation.  The  archi- 
episcopal  palace  at  Lambeth,  the  office  of  the  venerable  Society  for 
Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  as  well  as  some  other  insti- 
tutions in  London  of  less  note,  are  known  by  the  writer  to  contain 
valuable  documents  illustrative  of  our  early  history. 

3.  Let  some  safe  place  of  deposit  be  selected,  (the  writer  would  sug- 
gest the  Library  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,)  and  let  the 
books,  documents,  &c.,  belonging  to  the  General  Convention  be  there 
kept  in  a  case  by  themselves,  under  a  lock  and  key,  accessible  to  all 
persons  under  proper  regulations,  for  consultation,  but  to  be  removed 
by  no  one.  Make  the  conservator,  or  some  one  to  be  appointed  by  him, 
responsible  for  their  preservation,  and  let  a  report  of  their  condition 
and  of  the  additions  made  to  them  be  submitted  by  the  conservator 
to  every  General  Convention. 

These  are  the  outlines  of  a  plan  which  has  suggested  itself  to  the 
mind  of  him  who  addresses  you :  and  if  this,  or  some  similar  plan, 
\\  hich  will  secure  what  materials  the  Church  already  owns  and  pro- 
vide for  their  gradual  future  increase,  shall  be  adopted  by  the  Con- 
vention, then  the  undersigned  requests  of  the  Convention  to  accept 
as  a  donation  at  his  hands,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Church  at  large,  of 
such  materials  as  he  has  already  collected.  They  are  chiefly  the  fol- 
lowing: 

[  xxii  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

The  Churchman's  Magazine  —  the  three  series,       15  Vols. 


The  Christian  Journal, 

14 

do. 

The  Charleston  Gospel  Messenger, 

7 

do. 

The  Gospel  Advocate, 

5 

do. 

The  Episcopal  Magazine, 

2 

do. 

The  Episcopal  \\'atchman. 

5 

do. 

The  Gambler  Observer, 

4 

do. 

The  Episcopal  Recorder, 

12 

do. 

The  Churchman, 

4 

do. 

The  Banner  of  the  Church, 

1 

do. 

The  Protestant  Episcopalian, 

4 

do. 

The  Church  Register, 

4 

do. 

The  Southern  Churchman,  from  its  commencement. 

These  are  all  the  periodical  publications  of  the  Church  which  the 
subscriber  owns,  and  the  number  is  now  increasing  so  rapidly  that 
his  means  will  not  enable  him  to  obtain  all.  He  cannot  doubt,  how- 
ever, that  the  editors  and  publishers  of  all  our  church  periodicals  will 
give  to  the  Church  a  copy  of  their  respecti\'e  works  to  keep  the  series 
complete,  upon  a  proper  application  from  the  authorized  agent  of  the 
Church.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  Church  might  with  but  little 
effort  procure  perfect  sets  of  every  periodical  which  has  been  pub- 
lished in  this  country  by  members  of  our  communion,  and  experience 
enables  the  writer  to  add,  that  in  many  instances  they  would  be  found 
to  furnish  valuable  materials  to  him  who  is  engaged  in  ecclesiastical 
research. 

In  addition  to  the  periodicals  named,  the  subscriber  begs  the  accept- 
ance of  the  Convention  of  as  complete  sets  of  the  journals  of  the  sev- 
eral diocesan  Conventions  as  he  has  been  able  to  procure.  Probably 
what  is  here  offered,  added  to  what  the  Convention  owns  already  of 
diocesan  journals,  will  furnish  the  most  perfect  sets  that  it  is  now- 
possible  to  procure  anywhere. 

The  sets  here  offered  consist  of  about  20  volumes,  bound.  Besides 
C  xxiii  2 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

these,  the  subscriber  begs  permission  to  add  fortv  volumes  of  pam- 
phlets which  he  has  had  bound,  and  to  \\hich  he  has  made  an  alpha- 
betical index  on  a  plan  which  admits  of  constant  additions.  These 
pamphlets  (though  it  would  scarcely  seem  credible)  are  almost  en- 
tirely connected  with  some  matter  of  interest  to  the  Church  at  large, 
or  some  part  of  it;  and,  as  many  of  them  are  controversial,  thev  very 
often,  by  furnishing  the  admitted  points  on  each  side,  aft'ord  no  bad 
guide  to  the  discovery  of  truth.  Many  of  them  are  of  a  \ery  early 
date.  It  should  be  made  the  duty  of  the  conservator  to  be  particu- 
larly careful  to  add  all  that  is  proper  to  this  part  of  the  collection. 

Finally,  by  application  to  the  members  of  the  families  of  some  of  our 
early  clergy,  to  whom  the  Church  is  deeply  indebted  for  her  estab- 
lishment, the  subscriber  has  been  presented  with  many  original  let- 
ters and  manuscripts,  which  form,  in  his  view,  not  the  least  inter- 
esdng  part  of  his  collection.  These,  he  always  felt,  should  of  right 
belong  to  the  Church  at  large,  and  therefore  in  offering  them,  he  feels 
that  he  is  only  placing  in  the  possession  of  the  Church  that  which  is 
its  own.  The  papers  which  he  has,  are  such  portions  of  the  manu- 
scripts of  deceased  prelates  and  clergymen  as  concern  the  Church 
merely,  or  serve  to  throw  light  on  any  incident  connected  with  her 
history.  These  papers  he  has  endeavored  to  arrange  chronologically 
and  according  to  the  subject  matter  of  which  they  treat.  They  should 
be  bound,  and  one  volume  is  bound,  rather  as  a  specimen  of  the  best 
mode  of  preservation,  than  for  any  other  purpose.  The  binding,  how- 
ever, is  expensi\'e,  though  to  the  Church  at  large,  the  materials  are 
worth  much  more  than  this  expense  of  preservation.  The  precise  num- 
ber of  manuscript  volumes  in  my  possession  cannot  be  stated  ;  prob- 
ably, however,  at  the  least,  there  will  be  twenty,  when  all  the  manu- 
scripts are  received  which  have  been  promised. 

The  subscriber,  in  conclusion,  in  making  this  gift,  (of  which  he  has 

only  to  express  his  regret  that  it  is  not  more  valuable,)  is  obliged  to 

withhold  its  immediate  deli\ er\-,  for  a  reason  ^hich  he  will  state.  He 

has  been  endeavoring  (with  what  success  his  brethren  must  here- 

C  xxiv  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

after  determine)  to  gather  from  the  materials  in  his  possession,  some- 
thing liice  a  connected  narrative  of  the  progress  of  the  Church  up  to 
the  present  day.  The  first  vokime  of  his  labors  is  now  in  press,  and 
the  use  of  his  materials  is  indispensable  in  the  preparation  of  the  sub- 
sequent books :  he  must,  therefore,  be  permitted  to  retain  possession 
of  what  he  has  here  offered,  until  he  has  completed  the  labors  which 
he  has  marked  out  for  himself.  The  books,  however,  shall  be  care- 
fully preserved  and  provision  made  for  their  ultimately  coming  into 
the  possession  of  the  Church. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Francis  L.  Hawks.* 

The  Bishops  expressed  their  appreciation  of  his  labours  and  gener- 
ous offer.  It  was  referred  to  a  Joint  Committee,  consisting  of  the  As- 
sistant Bishops  of  Virginia,  Dr.  Meade;  and  Pennsylvania,  Dr. 
Onderdonk;  the  Rev.  Drs.  Hawks  and  Wheaton;  and  Mr.  Richard 
Potts  of  Maryland. 

The  Committee  made  this  report : 
Report  of  the  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  communication  of 
the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  concerning  certain  books,  pam- 
phlets, manuscripts,  isPc,  relating  to  the  history  of  the  Church  in  these 
United  States. 

The  Committee  report  that  they  have  had  the  same  under  considera- 
tion, and  recommend  the  following  resolutions  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion :  — 

1 .  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  General  Convention  be  returned 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  for  his  generous  offisr  of  the  books,  peri- 
odicals, and  manuscripts  now  in  his  possession,  and  that  the  conser- 
vator who  shall  hereafter  be  appointed,  be  directed  to  receive  the 
same. 

2.  That  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  White,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks, 
be  respectfully  requested  to  apply,  in  the  name  of  this  Convention, 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Conziention,  1835,  pp.  89-91. 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

to  such  persons  or  societies  in  England  alluded  to  in  the  letter  of 
Dr.  Hawks  as  possessing  similar  documents,  soliciting  the  same,  or 
copies  thereof,  for  the  use  of  the  Church  in  this  country. 

3.  Resolved,  That  a  conser\ator  of  all  the  books,  pamphlets,  and 
manuscripts  of  the  Church,  be  appointed  by  the  General  Convention, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  receive  and  preserve  all  such  books,  pam- 
phlets, manuscripts,  as  the  Church  may  now  own,  and  in  the  name 
of  the  Church,  respectfully  to  solicit  its  friends  to  add  to  the  same, 
by  donations  of  any  books  or  manuscripts  which  may  serve  to  illus- 
trate the  history  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States. 

4.  Resolved,  That  for  the  present,  the  books,  pamphlets,  and  manu- 
scripts belonging  to  the  Church,  be  deposited,  with  the  consent  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  in  the  library  thereof, 
in  a  separate  case  bv  themselves,  to  be  kept  under  lock  and  key, 
under  the  care  of  the  conser\ator,  or  some  person  appointed  by  him ; 
that  under  such  regulations  as  the  conservator  ma}'  adopt  to  ensure 
their  safety,  the  said  books  may  be  consulted  by  any  one,  but  with- 
out special  permission,  shall  be  removed  by  no  one;  and  the  conser- 
vator shall  triennially  make  report  to  the  Convention  of  the  condition 
of  the  library. 

5.  And  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses  attendant  upon 
the  collection  and  preser\ation  of  the  books,  manuscripts,  8cc.  herein 
referred  to,  Resolved,  That  the  conservator  be  permitted  to  solicit  pe- 
cuniary contributions  to  this  end;  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Churches  to  appropriate  a  small  portion  of  their  annual  contributions 
for  this  purpose. 

6.  That  it  be  recommended  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  be  requested 
to  act  as  conservator  of  the  abo\e-mentioned  books,  8tc. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by  the  Committee. 

William  Meade, 
Chairman  of  Commiiter* 

"fjcurnal  of  t/ie  General  Con'uenlio/i,  1835,  p.  100. 

[  xxvi  ;] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Dr.  Ha\\"ks  lost  no  time  in  acting  upon  the  report.  Receiving  a  dona- 
tion from  Trinity  Church,  Ne\\'  York,  and  a  contribution  from  a  friend 
of  Ascension  Parish,  he  added  enough  from  his  personal  means  to 
enable  him  to  prosecute  his  researches,  and  accordingly  sailed  for  Eng- 
land bearing  this  letter  from  the  Presiding  Bishop : 

Philadelphia,  March  17,  1836. 

Mv  Lord  Archbishop  : 

Your  grace  will  pardon  the  liberty  taken  by  a  stranger  on  find- 
ing that  his  object  has  a  bearing  on  the  ecclesiastical  literature  of  a 
church  which  claims  its  descent  from  the  church  in  which  your  grace 
presides. 

The  bearer  of  this  letter  is  the  Re\erend  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D., 
rector  of  St.  Thomas's  church  in  the  city  of  New  York:  who  has 
been  much  occupied  in  the  collection  of  documents  relative  to  the  his- 
tory of  the  Episcopal  churches  in  these  United  States.  In  prosecution 
of  the  design  he  is  now  preparing  to  visit  England,  under  the  expecta- 
tion of  finding  in  that  kingdom  many  records,  to  ^^■hich  access  ma}- 
be  had,  if  his  views  should  be  favoured  by  your  grace  in  your  archi- 
episcopal  character,  and  in  that  of  president  of  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel. 

We  trust  that  while  one  fruit  of  the  labours  of  this  gentleman,  will 
be  the  perpetuating  of  the  accounts  of  the  origin  of  our  communion, 
another  will  be  the  doing  of  justice  to  our  parent  church,  in  the  record- 
ing of  the  aids  furnished  to  her  progeny  in  their  colonial  state. 

By  the  general  convention  of  the  American  Church  in  August  last 
there  was  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  their  presiding  bishop 
and  Dr.  Hawks,  for  the  furthering  of  the  present  object.  Evidence 
of  this  appointment  may  be  seen  at  the  one  hundredth  page  of  the 
journal,  a  copy  of  which  will  be  delivered  with  this  letter. 

Being  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  the  Episcopal  succession,  recei\ed  bv 

me  from  the  hands  of  one  of  the  predecessors  of  your  grace,  the  ven- 

erable  Archbishop  Moore,  Avhose  attentions  and  courtesies  I  remem- 

C  xxvii  J 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

ber  with  gratitude,  I  cannot  be  much  longer  efficient  in  endeavours 
to  raise  our  church  from  the  desolation,  almost  amounting  to  anni- 
hilation, in  which  she  was  left  by  the  war  of  the  revolution.  But  it  is 
in  the  pursuit  of  the  object  to  which  my  labours  have  been  so  long 
directed,  that  I  solicit  the  condescension  of  your  grace  to  the  contents 
and  the  request  of  this  letter ;  being,  with  great  respect. 

Your  Grace's  very  humble  servant, 

Wm  White. 
To  the  Most  Reverend  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.* 

As  the  accredited  representative  of  the  American  Church,  Dr.  Hawks 
received  every  courtesy  and  attention.  In  a  letter  to  Bishop  White, 
which  was  received  in  Philadelphia  a  day  or  two  after  the  Bishop's 
death,  July  17,  1836,  he  gives  this  interesting  account  of  his  interview 
with  Dr.  Howley,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury : 

London,  May  24,  1836. 

Right  Reverend  and  Dear  Sir  : 

In  the  fulfilment  of  the  duties  confided  to  us  by  the  general  conven- 
tion, in  the  matter  of  collecting  all  procurable  documents  which  may 
illustrate  the  early  history  of  our  church,  I  have  made  my  contem- 
plated voyage,  and  now  write  to  communicate  to  you  the  result  of 
my  mission.  I  waited  first  upon  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  with 
your  letter  and  a  copy  of  the  journal  of  the  last  general  convention. 
I  was  received  with  great  courtesy  and  indeed  kindness  of  manner, 
and  found  in  his  grace  one  of  the  humblest  and  most  unpretending 
of  men.  He  had  been  apprised  of  my  arrival,  and  of  the  object  of  my 
visit,  by  one  of  his  clergy,  to  whom  I  had  letters,  and  who  had  seen 
my  testimonials.  I  cannot  better  describe  the  scene  which  followed 
than  by  sending  you  a  copy  of  my  memoranda  of  our  conversation, 
made  upon  my  return  home.  After  the  first  salutations  I  began : 

"Your  grace,  I  believe,  has  already  been  informed  by  Mr.  Norris 

*  Wilson's  Memoir  of  Bishop  IV/nte,  p.  256. 

j^  xxviii  3 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

of  the  general  object  of  my  visit  to  England.  This  letter  from  the  senior 
bishop  of  the  American  Church  will  more  particularly  explain  the 
nature  of  my  mission . ' ' 

"Ah,  this  then  is  the  handwriting  of  good  Bishop  White:  I  hope 
he  is  well." 

"He  was  well,  my  lord,  when  I  left  America." 

(He  then  began  to  read  the  letter  silently.)  After  a  short  time,  he 
said,  "How  old  is  the  good  Bishop  now?" 

"In  his  eighty-ninth  year,  my  lord." 

(Towards  the  close  he  began  to  read  aloud,  and  continued  so  to  read 
to  the  end.)  He  then  said,  "How  beautifully  he  has  expressed  him- 
self— he  is  a  venerable  man." 

"And,  I  assure  your  grace,  beloved  as  well  as  venerated  by  the 
Church  in  America." 

"No  doubt  of  it.  Well,  I  think  there  must  be  much  in  the  library 
here  which  will  be  valuable  to  you,  and  everything  is  at  your  service. 
The  records  of  the  Venerable  Society  must  also  contain  a  great  deal 
of  information.  I  know  that  there  are  some  MSS.  in  the  library  here 
touching  America,  but  I  have  never  been  able  to  examine  them  par- 
ticularly, for  I  have  but  little  time.  We  have  a  catalogue  of  our 
MSS.,  which  I  will  show  you."  (Here  he  rose  to  get  it.) 

"Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Norris  I  have  seen  a  copy  of  that 
catalogue,  and  examined  it  most  carefully ;  it  offers  very  many  valu- 
able papers  to  our  purpose,  if,  through  the  kindness  of  your  grace,  we 
may  obtain  access  to  them." 

"Oh  that  you  shall  have  most  cheerfully." 

(I  then  handed  him  the  copy  of  the  journal ;  and,  in  reply  to  his 
question  about  the  constitution  of  our  church,  explained  to  him  in 
few  words  our  system  of  government,  he. ;  and  expressing  the  sense 
of  obligation  which  we  felt  in  America  to  the  Church  of  England  for 
having  planted  and  so  long  sustained  us.  I  added  that  the  present 
condition  of  our  communion  was  an  honourable  monument  to  the  zeal 
and  piety  of  the  Church  of  England  ;  and  we  were  anxious  to  tell  the 
C  xxix  J 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

\\orld  our  storv  ;  because  we  hoped  that,  among  other  things,  it  would 
be  unsolicited  testimony  to  the  excellency  of  the  parent  church,  and 
well-timed  as  coming  when  she  Mas  assailed  by  a  strange  combina- 
tion of  those  who  were  heretofore  enemies  to  her  and  to  each  other. 
I  said  that  the  Venerable  Society  might  point  to  our  present  prosper- 
ity, and  challenge  any  other  missionary  society  to  show  equal  fruits 
of  its  labours.) 

"I  am  very  happy  to  hear  of  the  prosperity  of  the — Episcopal 
Church  in  America ;  I  was  going  to  say  of  the  Church,  for  such  (it 
may  be  from  my  old  fashioned  notions)  I  cannot  help  considering  her. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  those  without  episcopacy  are  not  churches, 
but  they  are  irregular  ones,  by  their  departure  from  primitive  usage. 
A  history  of  your  church  would  be  very  interesting:  I  hope  it  will  be 
written." 

"Bishop  White  has  written,  my  lord,  an  account  of  our  general 
history  since  the  revolution ;  and  I  hope,  ere  long,  to  put  a  copy 
into  the  hands  of  your  grace  "  (and  then  I  was  obliged  to  tell  him 
that  I  was  at  work,  and  had  published  the  volume,  on  the  Virginia 
Church) . 

"I  shall  be  glad  to  see  them  both,  and  always  pleased  to  render  any 
service  in  my  power  to  the  American  Church.  And  now  let  me  see 
how  I  can  aid  you.  I  must  bring  you  into  communication  with  Mr. 
Rose"  (the  Re\erend  Hugh  James  Rose,  his  chaplain,  and  he  sent 
a  servant  for  him). 

When  Mr.  Rose  entered,  he  introduced  me,  and  explained  my 
business,  and  immediately  arranged  with  Mr.  Rose  for  affording  me 
access  at  all  times,  and  every  desirable  facility  in  my  researches. 
"Now,"  said  he,  "I  must  help  you  further;  you  shall  have  all  you 
wish  from  the  records  of  the  Venerable  Society  ;  and  you  must  search 
the  British  Museum,  for  there  is  a  great  deal  about  America.  I  will 
give  you  the  necessary  introduction  there  at  once."  Accordingly  he 
wrote  a  note  to  Sir  Henry  Ellice  and  Mr.  Torshall — the  principal 
and  second  librarians.  When  he  handed  me  the  notes,  he  rose,  and 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

I  took  it  as  a  signal  to  withdraw.  I  rose  also,  and  said  —  "It  only 
remains  that,  in  the  name  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  I 
should  thank  your  grace  for  the  ready  kindness  vvMth  which  you  have 
met  their  wishes,  and  which  I  will  not  fail,  my  lord,  properly  to 
represent  to  them." 

"I  shall  be  happy  to  serve  them  in  this  matter,  and  shall  hope, 
sir,  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  again."  He  then  shook  hands 
with  me,  and  I  withdrew. 

I  then  proceeded  to  call  on  the  Bishop  of  London,  but  did  not  see 
his  lordship.  The  next  day  I  again  called  at  his  residence,  and  left 
my  letters,  he,  but  could  not  see  him  as  he  was  sick;  since  which 
time  he  has  been  almost  dead.  He  is  now  recovering.  I  have  access 
however  to  all  that  he  could  furnish.  Next  I  went  to  the  British  Mu- 
seum ;  and  there  the  archbishop's  note  made  me  as  it  were  free  of  the 
whole  house.  All  were  thrown  open  to  me.  Next  I  went  to  the  Ven- 
erable Society,  and  they  again  placed  in  my  hands  treasures  indeed 
well  worth  the  trouble  of  my  voyage.  In  about  forty  volumes  of  MSS. 
I  found  all  the  original  letters  of  our  missionaries  a6  initio,  with  me- 
morials, governors'  letters,  &c.,  furnishing  a  mass  of  information  be- 
yond my  most  sanguine  hopes.  These  they  put  into  my  possession  to 
have  what  copies  made  I  pleased.  Finally,  through  the  kindness  of  the 
Reverend  Thomas  Hartwell  Home,  I  obtained  access  to  the  library 
of  Sion  College,  where  there  are  se\eral  Aaluable  MSS.  of  Dr.  Brav's. 
I  am  now  examining  the  MSS.  of  the  Society,  having  finished  those 
at  Lambeth,  and  have  as  many  clerks  employed  in  copying  as  I 
can  get.  I  hope  to  bring  home  many  folios  of  transcripts  of  deep  inter- 
est and  importance  to  our  communion,  and  will  leave  nothing  behind 
me  really  valuable,  unless  my  funds  fail  to  pay  for  transcribing.  I 
am  working  very  hard,  reading  MSS.  night  and  day,  and  shall  be 
glad  when  I  can  leave  London  to  examine  the  libraries  at  Oxford 
and  Cambridge,  where  I  have  agents  now  at  work.  Bishop  Doane  ex- 
pressed much  interest  in  the  ends  of  my  mission  the  day  before  I  left 
New  York  ;  and  I  must  therefore  request  that  when  you  see  him  you 
C  xxxi  ^ 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

will  communicate  what  I  have  written.  Do  not,  however,  let  anvthing 
(save  of  a  general  character)  be  printed;  because  we  shall  make  a 
detailed  report  to  the  general  convention,  which  w  ill  be  put  upon  our 
journals. 

Very  respectfully  and  affectionately. 

Your  son  and  servant  in  the  Church, 

FRA^'CIS  L.  Hawks.* 

The  diligence  and  industry  of  Dr.  Hawks  deserve  all  praise.  He 
found  material  which  makes  possible  a  connected  and  consistent 
narrative  of  the  work  of  the  clergy  of  the  colonial  Church.  With  his 
limitations  of  time  and  money,  he  allowed  some  documents  of  ^■erv 
real  importance  to  be  untranscribed.  He  selected  sometimes  only  por- 
tions of  letters,  when  the  full  letters  would  have  been  of  service  to 
those  ^vho  were  tracing  out  the  life  of  some  worthy  of  the  colonial 
Church  or  the  annals  of  the  parish  in  which  he  served. 

It  is  also  understood  that  both  at  the  office  of  the  Propagation  So- 
ciety and  Fulham  Palace  there  have  been  found  since  1836  docu- 
ments of  equal,  if  not  of  greater,  value  than  those  seen  by  Dr.  Hawks. 

His  work  was  a  stupendous  one  for  that  day.  The  folios  of  tran- 
scripts he  had  properly  arranged  according  to  date  and  colonies, 
and  bound  substantially  in  eighteen  folio  volumes.  The  value  of  these 
transcripts  is  enhanced  when  it  is  known  that  some  of  the  docu- 
ments have  since  been  destroyed  bv  fire  or  otherwise,  and  some  have 
disappeared. 

Dr.  Hawks  made  this  detailed  report  to  the  General  Convention 
during  its  sessions  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia,  from  Sep- 
tember 5  to  September  17,  1838: 


Wilson's  Memoir  of  Bis/iop  U'Mte,  p.  258. 

C  xxxii  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

conservator's  report 
to  the  general  convention  of  i838 

To  the  General  Convention  oftlie  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  the 
United  States  of  America :  — 

The  undersigned,  appointed  at  the  last  General  Convention  Conser- 
vator of  the  Books,  Manuscripts,  &c.,  belonging  to  the  Convention, 
begs  lea\e  respectfully  to  report — 

That  since  the  last  meeting  of  your  Body,  he  has  endeavoured  dili- 
gently to  fulfil  the  purposes  of  his  appointment,  and  he  is  happy  to 
say,  that  his  efforts  have  not  been  without  success.  For  the  better 
understanding  of  his  acts,  he  will  arrange  the  particulars  of  what 
he  has  to  report  under  separate  heads. 

1.  Periodicals  of  the  Church.  In  addition  to  those  named  in  my  for- 
mer communication,  printed  on  pp.  89-90,  of  the  last  Journal  of  this 
Convention,  I  have  now  to  state,  that  I  have  continued  to  take,  and 
preserve  for  the  Church,  "The  Gambler  Observer,"  "The  Church- 
man," "The  Episcopal  Recorder,"  and  "The  Southern  Church- 
man.' '  From  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rudd,  editor  of ' '  The  Gospel  Messenger, ' ' 
printed  in  the  ^Vestern  part  of  Ne\v-York,  I  have  received  six  volumes 
of  that  work  as  a  present  to  the  Collection,  accompanied  by  a  promise, 
that  the  rest  of  the  work  shall  be  hereafter  given,  so  that  the  series 
shall  be  complete.  "The  Christian  Witness,"  of  Boston,  and  the 
"Chronicle  of  the  Church,"  of  New-Haven,  have  both  been  estab- 
lished since  the  last  General  Convention.  Of  these,  the  latter  has  been 
sent  by  the  editor  to  me,  and  I  have  preser\'ed  it  for  the  collection  ;  for 
the  former  I  ha\'e  applied  to  one  of  the  gentlemen  interested  in  its  pub- 
lication, and  there  is  no  doubt  that  I  shall  get  it.  "The  Charleston 
Gospel  Messenger, ' '  and  ' '  Protestant  Episcopalian ' '  (of  the  former  of 
A\"hich  I  ha\e  se\'en  volumes,  and  of  the  latter  four),  I  would  gladly 
have  continued  to  take,  but  ha\e  not  been  able  to  encounter  the  ex- 
pense. Neither  have  I,  for  the  same  reason,  a  file  of  "The  Mission- 
ary," of  New -Jersey.  In  truth,  the  periodicals  of  the  Church  have 
[^  xxxiil  ] 


ARCHR  ES  OF  THE 

now  become  so  numerous,  that  I  fear,  unless  their  respective  proprie- 
tors will  give  them  to  the  Con\'ention,  it  will  not  be  in  my  poA\  er  longer 
to  procure  them.  The  subscription  price,  together  with  the  postage, 
is  a  heavy  tax.  I  would  bear  it  cheerfully,  if  I  could,  but  I  am  not 
in  a  condition  to  do  so.  A\ailing  myself,  ho\\"ever,  of  the  pri\ilege 
conferred  on  me  by  the  last  Convention,  of  soliciting,  in  the  name  of 
the  Church,  additions  to  our  collection,  I  would  here  respectfully  ask 
of  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  all  our  Church  periodicals,  copies  of 
their  respective  publications,  to  be  preserved  for  the  Church. 

2.  Books  and  Pamphlets.  Of  the  first,  I  have  recei\'ed  some  few  dona- 
tions— one,  a  volume  of  the  early  Journals  of  Ohio,  from  Mrs.  S. 
Johnson,  of  Cincinnati ;  one  from  Rev.  Dr.  Reed,  of  Poughkeepsie  ; 
one  from  Peter  A.  Jay,  Esq.;  another  from  W.  H.  Harison,  Esq., 
of  New- York,  and  one  from  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Norris,  of  Hackney,  near 
London.  I  have  also  taken  pains  to  procure  copies  of  all  Pamphlets 
connected  Avith  the  affairs  of  the  Church,  that  have  been  published 
since  the  last  General  Convention.  When  these  shall  be  bound  they 
will  add  several  volumes  to  our  collection  of  Pamphlets,  and  make  it 
as  nearh'  perfect  as  is  now  possible.  I  have  been  careful,  also,  to  keep 
up  the  series  of  Journals  of  the  several  State  Contentions,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  the  General  Convention  now  possesses  the  most  com- 
plete series  extant.  In  this  department,  my  greatest  difficulty  is  in  the 
expense  of  binding.  I  should  be  happy  if  the  Convention  could  devise 
some  mode  of  defraying  it. 

3 .  Manuscnpts  obtained  in  America.  I  have  added  some  Aaluable  mate- 
rials to  this  stock.  These  are  the  donations  of  the  descendants  of  some 
of  our  deceased  Bishops  and  Clergy.  They  will  all,  I  hope,  in  due 
time  be  bound.  Some  of  them  are  very  important,  as  will  be  seen  when 
I  state,  that  among  them  are  the  original  Canonical  documents  on 
which  nearly  all  of  our  Bishops  have  been  consecrated. 

4.  Manuscripts  obtained  abroad.  It  will  be  recollected  that  by  the  last 
General  Convention,  authority  was  given  to  our  late  venerable  presid- 
ing Bishop  and  myself,  to  apply,  in  the  name  of  the  Church,  to  such 

C  xxxiv  ] 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

persons  or  societies  in  England,  as  might  be  in  possession  of  docu- 
ments illustrating  our  Ecclesiastical  History,  for  copies  of  the  same. 
In  pursuance  of  this  authority,  in  March,  1836,  I  sailed  for  Eng- 
land, furnished  by  Bishop  White  with  proper  credentials,  and  recom- 
mended, as  to  the  purposes  of  my  mission,  to  his  Grace,  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  and  to  his  Lordship,  the  Bishop  of  London.  To 
say  simply  that  my  reception  by  these  prelates  was  kind,  would  not 
adequately  express  my  sense  of  the  cordiality  manifested  to\vard  me, 
in  furthering  the  great  ends  of  my  agency.  In  an  interview  had  with 
the  Archbishop,  soon  after  my  arrival,  he  was  pleased  to  express  the 
deep  interest  he  felt  in  the  prosperity  and  \velfare  of  our  portion  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  after  inquiries  into  its  condition  and  prospects, 
said  that  he  thought  we  were  Mise  in  making  efforts  to  preserve 
authentic  materials  for  our  history,  and  added  that  it  afibrded  him 
pleasure  to  aid  us  in  so  good  a  work . 

As  President  of  the  venerable  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  he 
then  furnished  me  with  a  note  to  the  Secretary,  desiring  that  I  might 
have  free  access  to  the  documents  and  records  of  that  institution.  An 
introduction  to  Sir  Henry  Ellis,  the  Keeper  of  the  British  Museum, 
made  accessible  to  me  its  rare  treasures  of  early  American  tracts: 
and  I  was  freely  permitted  to  make  my  researches  in  the  valuable 
Library  of  MSS.,  at  the  Archiepiscopal  Palace  at  Lambeth.  The 
MSS.  under  the  control  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  at  Fulham,  were 
also  most  promptly  and  kindly  submitted  to  my  inspection,  with  full 
permission,  both  from  the  Archbishop  and  Bishop,  to  make  copies 
of  any  papers  that  might  seem  to  me  valuable  or  important. 

Indeed,  I  owe  it  to  both  these  distinguished  prelates,  to  say,  that  the 
truly  kind  spirit  they  manifested  toward  our  Church,  and  toward  my- 
self, as  being  her  agent  in  this  business,  was,  during  my  whole  stay, 
most  gratifying  to  my  feelings,  as  a  Minister  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States.  Nor  must  I  omit  here  to  mention, 
that  from  some  of  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England,  I  received 
the  most  valuable  aid  in  my  labours.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Norris,  of  Hack- 
[    XXXV    ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

ney,  whose  interest  in  our  Church  had  led  him  to  some  research  into 
its  early  history,  was  especially  kind.  He  freely  bestowed  his  time,  his 
influence,  and  his  labours,  in  furthering  the  great  end  I  had  in  view; 
and  it  is  due  to  him  to  say,  that  but  for  his  valuable  assistance,  my 
mission  would  have  been  far  less  successful  than  it  w as.  I  met  \\ith 
no  Clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  took  a  deeper  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  our  Communion,  and  none  to  whom,  in  the  business 
of  my  agenc\-,  the  thanks  of  the  Church  in  this  country  are  more  justly 
due.  From  all  the  Clergy,  indeed,  to  Avhom  my  business  was  made 
known,  I  experienced  the  kindest  treatment,  but  none  could  help  me 
as  Mr.  Norris  did. 

There  were  three  sources  from  A\hich  I  expected  to  derive  the 
documents  our  Church  desired.  These  were,  the  Library  of  MSS. 
at  Lambeth,  the  Correspondence  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  the  Letters  and  Documents  of  the  former 
Bishops  of  London,  preserved  at  Fulham.  I  examined  them  all.  By 
direction  of  the  Archbishop,  my  copyists  were  furnished  with  e^■ery 
facility  for  making  transcripts  at  Lambeth,  and  the  kind  feelings  of 
his  Grace  will  appear  in  the  following  extract  from  a  Communication, 
received  from  his  Chaplain : 

"I  have  the  pleasure  of  stating  to  you,  in  behalf  of  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  that  you  have  had  his  Grace's  full  and  free  permis- 
sion of  access  to  the  Lambeth  Library,  for  the  important  public  object 
which  you  have  had  in  view,  and  consequently,  no  fee  or  remuneration 
whatever,  is  to  be  paid  by  you  to  any  of  the  officers  of  the  Archiepis- 
copal  establishment.  His  Grace  has  felt  a  lively  satisfacdon  in  forward- 
ing, in  this  instance,  the  designs  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 
States,  and  begs  to  assure  yourself,  and  through  you,  the  Clergy  and 
Laity  of  your  Church,  of  the  interest  with  which  he  has  heard,  and 
will  always  hear,  of  the  prosperity  of  your  religious  institutions." 

The  Bishop  of  London  was  not  less  kind  in  causing  all  the  parcels 
relating  to  America  to  be  selected  from  the  mass  of  documents  in  his 
possession,  and  these  I  was  permitted  to  examine  at  my  leisure. 
t  xxxvi  ^ 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

In  the  records  of  the  venerable  Society  I  found  all  the  correspondence 
of  the  Missionaries  sent  out  to  this  continent,  from  the  commence- 
ment of  its  existence  in  1701,  up  to  the  American  revolution.  This 
was  contained  in  about  fifty  bound  volumes,  and  a  large  mass  of 
unbound  MSS.  I  read  the  whole,  and  caused  transcripts  to  be  made  of 
such  portions  as  were  useful  in  illustrating  our  history.  The  result 
of  my  labours  was  eighteen  large  folio  volumes  of  MSS.,  which  I 
arranged  chronologically,  and  assorted  with  reference  to  the  colony 
or  province  from  which  they  came,  and  caused  to  be  bound.  A  speci- 
men is  herewith  submitted  for  the  inspection  of  the  Con\  ention.  Be- 
side a  volume  containing  such  papers  as  refer  not  to  anv  particular 
colony  or  province,  but  to  the  Church  at  large,  there  are  historical 
documents  touching  the  Church  in  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New-York,  New  Jersey, 
Pennsyhania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida. 

The  Library  of  the  Convention  is  therefore  truly  rich  in  unpublished 
MSS.  Many  of  the  papers  in  these  volumes  illustrate  incidentally 
interesting  points  in  our  civil  history,  and  they  have  been  consulted 
with  profit  by  those  whose  pursuits  have  led  them  to  make  historical 
researches.  These  volumes  have  cost  two  thousand  dollars,  and  I  am 
happv  to  inform  the  Convention  that  they  are  paid  for.  As  the  Agent 
of  the  Convention,  under  the  resolution  passed  at  the  last  Triennial 
Meeting,  I  applied  to  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  in  New- 
York,  asking  its  aid  to  procure  these  valuable  documents  for  the 
Church,  and  the  Vestry  very  liberally  appropriated  $1,500  toward 
the  expense  of  copying.  A  gentleman  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, in  New-York,  gave  me  for  the  same  purpose,  $125,  the  residue 
I  was  happy  to  be  able  to  give  myself.  In  the  name,  and  on  behalf 
of  the  Convention,  I  wrote  a  letter  of  thanks  to  the  Corporation  of 
Trinity  Church,  and  informed  them  of  the  good  they  had  done  to 
the  Church  in  procuring  these  MSS.  Before  leaving  England,  I  felt 
it  to  be  mv  duty  to  express,  by  letter,  the  thanks  of  this  body  to  the 
[  xxxvii  "2 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

Archbishop  of  Canterl)ur\ ,  the  Bisliop  of  London,  and  the  venerable 
Societv  for  propagating  the  Gospel.  I  did  this  in  the  name  of  the  Con- 
vention, and  as  its  Agent  in  this  business.  Copies  of  these  letters  are 
appended  to  this  report.  From  the  Archbishop  I  received  a  letter  con- 
taining the  expression  of  his  kind  feeling  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States,  and  a  message  for  our  late  father,  the 
venerable  and  beloved  Bishop  White.  Before  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
delivering  the  latter,  that  good  man  \\as  with  God.  It  would  be 
unjust  to  his  memory  to  M'ithhold  this  tribute  to  his  worth,  from  one 
so  pious  and  estimable  as  the  present  primate  of  the  English  Church. 
Our  hearts  I  am  sure  will  all  respond  to  the  testimonial  which  living 
worth  here  renders  to  the  virtues  of  our  departed  Bishop.  It  is  a  laud- 
able feeling  tliat  seeks  to  preserve  it  on  our  records.  The  letter  of  the 
Archbishop  \\'ill  therefore  also  be  foimd  in  the  Appendix  to  this  report. 
I  know  not  that  I  ha\e  more  to  add  to  this  official  statement,  except 
in  general  terms  to  say,  that  the  Convention  has  now  a  very  valuable 
library  of  materials  for  our  Ecclesiastical  history.  A  little  care  taken 
in  adding  to  it  from  time  to  time  will  make  it  a  treasure  to  our  pos- 
terity. The  foundation  is  well  laid  ;  may  we  not  hope  that  the  Church 
will  feel  some  interest  in  furnishing  materials  for  the  superstruction  ? 
If  members.  Clerical  and  Lay,  will  but  bear  in  mind  that  there  is  a 
place  of  safe  deposit  for  e\erything  connected  with  our  history,  past 
or  present;  and,  gathering  up  the  fragments  within  their  reach  that 
nothing  may  be  lost,  will  but  send  them  to  the  Conservator,  they  may, 
with  but  little  trouble  to  themsehes,  do  much  good  to  the  Church. 
In  conclusion,  the  Conservator  begs  leave  to  say,  not  officially,  but  as 
communicating  that  which  maj-  be  of  interest  to  some  of  his  brethren, 
that  since  his  return  he  has  not  been  idle.  With  the  valuable  aid  of 
the  now  ample  materials  in  his  possession,  he  has  written  two  more 
volumes,  and  will  soon  have  a  third  prepared  for  publication.  With 
God's  blessing  he  hopes  to  be  enabled  to  go  on  until  he  has  finished 
the  long  task  he  has  undertaken,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  its  whole  history.  He 
[[  xxxviii  J 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

has  found  in  his  researches  into  that  history  much  of  deep  interest 
that  he  did  not  know  before,  mucli  that  is  now  unknown  to  his  breth- 
ren. His  work  may  therefore  possess  at  least  the  attraction  of  novelty, 
and  in  its  prosecution,  he  asks  of  his  brethren.  Clerical  and  Lay, 
their  aid,  their  sympathy,  and  their  prayers. 

Francis  L.  Hawks. 
New- York,  September  i,  1838. 

Letter  from  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 

Lambeth,  August  I,   1836. 

Dear  Sir  : 

I  LOSE  no  time  in  acknowledging  your  very  acceptable  present,  the 
"History  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Virginia,"  which 
I  trust  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  first  of  a  series  of  volumes  comprising 
the  Ecclesiastical  History  of  the  United  States  of  America,  from  the 
first  settlement  of  the  Colonies  to  the  present  day.  This  period  is 
interesting  in  the  highest  degree,  as  considered  with  reference  both 
to  the  growth  of  the  Church  imder  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
country,  and  to  its  instrumentality  in  ages  to  come  in  extending  the 
limits  of  Christendom  by  the  overflowings  of  population  at  home,  or 
the  agency  of  Missions  at  a  distance. 

I  have  had  great  pleasure  in  affording  from  the  MSS.  collection  at 
Lambeth,  a  supply  of  materials  for  this  important  work.  .  .  . 

I  can  assure  you  with  truth,  that  I  shall  be  happy  to  avail  myself 
of  every  opportunity  of  showing  my  high  respect  for  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  America,  and  the  warm  interest  I  take  in  its 
growing  prosperity.  I  remain,  Dear  Sir, 

Your  faithful  Servant, 

W.  Cantuar. 

P.S.  I  have  been  exceedingly  gratified  by  Bishop  White's  attention 

in  sending  me  the  second  edition  of  his  Memoirs  of  the  Protestant 

Episcopal  Church  in  the  U.  S.  of  America.  The  work  is  more  than 

[  xxxix  '] 


ARCHI\'ES  OF  THE 

ordinarily  valuable  as  an  authentic  record  of  transactions  of  the  high- 
est importance  to  the  American  Church,  and  as  a  lasting  memorial 
of  the  truly  Christian  principles,  temper  and  conduct  of  the  venera- 
ble persons,  American  and  English,  by  whose  prudence  and  jjiety 
the  proceedings  were  brought  to  a  happy  issue.  I  trust  that  the  rela- 
tion thus  providentially  established  between  the  tw  o  Churches  will 
subsist  unimpaired,  and  will  be  acknowledged  by  mother  and  daugh- 
ter with  sentiments  of  mutual  respect  and  affection  to  the  end  of  the 
world.  To  the  venerable  Prelate,  who  may  be  regarded  as,  in  more 
senses  than  one,  the  Father  of  your  Episcopal  Church,  I  request  you 
to  convey  my  warm  and  sincere  congratulations  on  his  having  been 
preserved  by  a  gracious  Providence  to  rejoice  in  the  success  of  his 
labours,  and  in  the  prospect  of  a  still  brighter  futurity.  That  his 
most  sanguine  hopes  may  be  realized,  and  that  the  evening  of  a  life 
devoted  to  the  service  of  God,  and  the  benefit  of  mankind,  may  be 
unclouded  with  pain  or  sorrow,  is  my  earnest  prayer. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  to  the  Archbishop  ofCanterlniry 

London. 
Mv  Lord  Archbishop  : 

In  the  name,  and  on  behalf  of  "the  General  Convention  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,"  it  is  my  duty,  and, 
allow  me  to  add,  my  pleasure,  to  offer  to  your  Grace  the  cordial 
thanks  of  that  body  for  the  ready  kindness  with  which  every  facility 
was  afforded  to  their  agent  in  prosecuting  the  mission  on  a\  hich  he 
was  sent. 

The  documents  in  the  library  of  MSS.  at  Lambeth,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  venerable  Society  over  which  your  Grace  presides,  have  afforded 
most  valuable  materials  for  the  history  of  the  American  Episcopal 
Church :  and  the  aid  which  your  Grace  has,  with  so  much  generosity, 
rendered,  in  obtaining  access  to  them,  will  be  duly  appreciated  by 
those  whom  I  have  the  honour  here  to  represent. 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Your  Grace  has  been  pleased  through  your  chaplain  (Mr.  Ogilvie) 
to  give  it  me  in  charge  to  communicate  to  the  Clergy  and  Lait\'  of 
the  communion  to  which  I  belong,  the  gratification  with  w  hich  you 
have  heard  of  the  prosperity  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  and 
the  interest  felt  in  its  future  progress  and  welfare.  The  duty  shall 
be  faithfully  performed,  and  will,  I  am  sure,  increase  the  affectionate 
feeling  with  which  the  Episcopalians  of  the  United  States  do  now 
contemplate  that  Church,  ^\  hich,  in  the  infancy  of  their  communion, 
was  a  dear  mother  to  them,  and  to  which  (in  the  language  of  the  pre- 
face to  our  Book  of  Common  Prayer)  we  are  so  deeply  indebted  "for 
a  long  continuance  of  nursing  care  and  protection." 
I  have  the  honour  to  be 
Your  Grace's 

Most  obedient  Servant, 

Francis  L.  Hawks, 
Conservator  of  the  Records  and  Documents  of 
the  Prot.  Epis.  Church  in  the  United  States. 

To  the  Right  Hon.  and  Most  Reverend, 
the  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury'. 


Copi/  of  a  Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London 

London. 
Mv  Lord: 

I  SHOULD  but  execute  in  part  the  trust  confided  to  me,  if  I  did  not 
in  the  name  of  "the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  United  States,"  thank  your  Lordship  for  the  aid 
afforded  to  me  in  accomplishing  the  purposes  of  my  mission. 

I  think  it  will  afford  satisfaction  to  your  Lordship  to  know  that  the 
papers  put  into  my  possession  at  Fulham,  ha\e  been  of  essential 
value ;  and  on  one  point,  of  much  interest  in  America,  have  furnished 
information  which  I  have  long  sought  without  success.  Tradition 
has  brought  down  to  us  (on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic)  the  suspi- 

I  xii : 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

cion,  I  can  scarcely  call  it  more,  that  before  the  separation  from  the 
mother  country,  two  non-juring  Bishops  were  living  in  America :  I  mean 
bishops  consecrated  by  some  of  the  non-juring  Bishops  here  to  sup- 
ply that  want  of  the  Episcopal  office  that  w  as  so  long  and  sorely  felt  in 
the  Colonies.  The  papers  put  into  my  possession  by  your  Lordship's 
kindness  have  confirmed  the  tradition,  and  I  now  know  the  names 
of  the  gentlemen  who  were  thus  consecrated.  The  discoveries  on  this 
subject  will  be  hailed  with  much  interest  at  home,  and  I  confess  I  am 
enthusiast  enough  to  feel  that  they  quite  reward  all  my  labours. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect, 
Your  Lordship's 

Most  obedient  Servant, 

Francis  L.  Hawks, 
Conservator  of  the  Records  and  Documents  of 
the  Prot.  Epis.  Church  in  the  United  States. 

To  the  Right  Hon.  and  Right  Reverend 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts 

London. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  : 

Permit  me,  through  you,  to  tender  to  "the  Society  for  Propagating 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  the  thanks  of  "the  General  Conven- 
tion of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,"  for 
the  kind  and  obliging  manner  in  which  their  views  and  wishes  have 
been  met  by  the  Society,  in  the  business  on  which  I  was  deputed  to 
visit  England. 

The  free  access  which  has  been  afforded  me  to  the  documents  of  the 

Society,  has  enabled  me  (in  the  correspondence  of  the  Missionaries 

sent  to  the  American  Continent)  to  trace  the  progress  of  the  Church 

in  the  United  States,  from  the  commencement  of  the  Society's  exist- 

C  xlii  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

ence.  For  more  than  seventy  years,  our  history  is,  in  a  great  degree, 
but  the  history  of  your  benevolence.  May  I  not  add  that  our  present 
condition  in  America  is  such,  that  the  Society,  when  asked  for  the 
fruit  of  its  labours,  ma}-,  without  shame,  point  to  us.  The  tree,  I  be- 
lieve, will  not  disgrace  those  w  ho  planted  it,  and  nursed  its  infancy. 
I  have  caused  many  Aolumes  of  transcripts  to  be  made  from  your 
records,  and  these  will  be  preserved,  in  America,  in  the  Library  of 
the  General  Convention,  a  body  which  represents  the  whole  Church 
in  our  land. 

I  shall  not  fail  properly  to  represent  at  home,  the  kind  spirit  ex- 
hibited by  the  Society,  and  I  will  answer  for  its  being  duly  appre- 
ciated. 

With  every  sentiment  of  respect  for  the  members  of  the  Society, 
and  my  earnest  prayers  for  its  continued  prosperity  and  usefulness, 
I  have  the  honour  to  be. 

Your  obedient  Servant, 

Francis  L.  Hawks, 
Conservator  of  the  Records  and  Documents  of 
the  Prot.  Epis.  Church  in  the  United  States.* 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  William  Howley ,  who  succeeded  to 
the  Primacy  in  1828  on  the  death  of  Archbishop  Sutton.  He  had  been 
Bishop  of  London  from  1813  to  1828.  The  Bishop  of  London  was 
Charles  James  Blomfield,  who  succeeded  Bishop  Howley  in  1828; 
his  successor  in  1856  was  Bishop  Tait.  The  Mr.  Norris  referred  to 
by  Dr.  Hawks  was  the  staunch  friend  and  correspondent  of  Bishop 
Hobart,  and  the  reader  is  referred  to  volumes  iii  and  iv  of  Dix's  "His- 
tory of  Trinity  Parish"  and  to  "A  Century  of  Achievement,  the 
History  of  the  New  York  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Society  for 
One  Hundred  Years,"  by  Lowndes,  for  further  particulars  concerning 
Mr.  Norris  and  his  correspondence. 
This  report  was  received  with  congratulations  and  approbation. 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  1838,  pp.  131-136. 
C    Xliii    ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

The  transcripts  and  other  material  previously  collected  were  formally 
committed  to  the  care  of  Dr.  Hawks,  and  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  historiographer  to  prepare  from  them  a  full  history  of  the 
Church  in  America  in  the  manner  that  seemed  to  him  best.  At  the 
same  convention  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis,  then  justly  con- 
sidered the  most  accomplished  scholar  of  the  American  Church,  if  not 
in  the  country,  was  appointed  "Historiographer  of  the  Church,  with 
a  view  to  his  preparing  from  the  most  original  sources  now  extant, 
a  faithful  ecclesiastical  History  reaching  from  the  Apostles'  times, 
to  the  formation  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States." 

Thus  the  \\isdom  of  the  members  of  that  Con\ention  provided  for 
a  more  careful  study  of  the  history  of  the  Christian  Church  and  a 
detailed  view  of  the  Church  in  America. 

The  historiographer  was  a  very  busy  man ;  he  was  the  rector  of  a 
large  city  parish,  a  preacher  of  the  most  polished  elocution  and  ornate 
style,  an  educator  of  prominence,  a  lecturer  of  wide  acceptance,  a  mem- 
ber of  many  learned  societies,  and  prominent  in  both  Diocesan  and 
General  Conventions. 

Dr.  Hawks  issued  his  second  volume  in  1839,  under  the  title:  "Con- 
tributions to  the  Ecclesiastical  History  of  the  United  States,  by  Fran- 
cis L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  Rector  of  St.  Thomas'  Church,  New  York, 
Volume  II.  "*  It  had  as  a  sub-title:  "A  Narrative  of  Events  Con- 
nected with  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  Maryland." 

The  volume  remains  a  valuable  and  standard  book  of  reference,  al- 
though much  has  since  been  written  upon  the  history  of  the  Church 
in  Maryland. 

In  1841,  at  the  session  of  the  General  Convention,  held  in  the  city 
of  New  York  from  October  6  to  October  19,  the  House  of  Bishops 
made  provision  for  the  safe-keeping  of  the  documents  of  that  House, 

*  New  York  :  John  S.  Taylor, Theological  and  Sunday  School  Bookseller,  Brick  Church  Chapel, 
1859,  S^Oj  PP-  "^''j  5^3- 

C  xliv  ] 


GENEIL\L  CONVENTION 

particularly  those  which  related  to  the  consecration  of  Bishops,  and 
which  had  been  especially  exempted  from  the  provision  concerning 
documents  committed  to  the  custody  of  the  conservator  which  ulti- 
mately were  to  be  preserved  in  the  Library  of  the  General  Theolo- 
gical Seminary.  The  office  of  Register  of  the  House  of  Bishops  was 
created.  It  was  his  duty  to  collect  from  every  possible  source  such 
material  as  bore  upon  the  consecration  of  Bishops  and  other  papers 
which  related  to  the  proceedings  of  the  House  of  Bishops.  They  were  to 
be  preserved  in  "  a  fire-proof  box,  to  be  kept  in  the  Librarv  of  the  Gen- 
eral Theological  Seminary,  with  the  consent  of  the  Trustees  thereof. ' ' 
It  was  also  made  his  duty  to  "procure  a  blank  book,  and  have  same 
labelled  with  the  title  'Consecration  of  Bishops,'  and  record  in  the 
same  the  time  and  place  of  the  consecrations  of  all  Bishops  with  the 
names  of  the  Bishops  consecrating,  and  those  present  and  assisting." 
The  Librarian  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  for  the  time 
being  was  then  nominated  and  elected  Register.* 

At  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  citv  of  Phila- 
delphia from  October  2  to  October  22,  1844,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  D. 
Ogilby,  professor  of  history  and  librarian,  reported  that  one  pack- 
age of  papers  had  been  placed  in  his  custody  by  the  Bishop  of  Ohio, 
Dr.  Mcllvaine.  His  application  to  the  treasurer  to  purchase  a  fire- 
proof box  or  safe,  and  a  blank-book,  was  met  with  the  response  "that 
there  were  no  funds  for  that  purpose;"  consequently  he  had  "re- 
frained from  any  active  measures  for  procuring  accessible  documents. ' ' 
At  the  same  session  the  Committee  on  Unfinished  Business  reported 
that  the  only  matter  requiring  attention  was  the  provision  of  a  place  of 
deposit  for  the  material  in  the  hands  of  theRegister.  It  was  then  resolved 
that  the  documents  and  other  material  ' '  be  deposited  with  the  Regis- 
ter of  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to 
provide  a  safe  or  box." 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  a  committee  consisting  of  Bishop  Otey 
of  Tennessee ;  Bishop  Doane  of  New  Jersey ;  and  Bishop  Whittingham 

*  "Journal  of  the  General  Con'vention,  1S41,  pp.  89,  100,  109,  no. 

I  xlv  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

of  Maryland,  at  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the 
city  of  New  York  from  October  6  to  October  28,  1847,  the  name  of 
the  office  appointed  in  1847  was  changed  to  Registrar,  but  without 
any  formal  motion.  The  new  designation  is  found  in  a  resolution  au- 
thorizing the  treasurer  of  the  Convention  to  "furnish  the  Registrar  of 
the  House  of  Bishops  the  amount  necessary  to  enable  the  said  Regis- 
trar to  perform  the  duties  assigned  to  him  by  this  House  at  that  ap- 
pointment ;  said  amount  to  be  determined  by  the  Registrar  and  Treas- 
urer jointly."*  In  the  House  of  Deputies  this  proviso  was  added: 
' '  and  to  be  paid  after  the  contingent  expenses  of  this  Convention  have 
all  been  liquidated." f 

The  resolution,  in  this  form,  was  passed  by  the  House  of  Bishops, 
and  as  the  receipts  of  the  treasurer  were  onlv  sufficient  to  cover  the 
immediate  expenses  of  printing,  sexton's  fees,  and  other  immediate 
demands,  the  archives  of  the  House  of  Bishops  were  still  without 
proper  protection.  Bishop  Whittingham  brought  before  the  House  of 
Bishops  on  Saturday-,  October  9,  the  third  day  of  the  session,  reso- 
lutions concerning  "books,  pamphlets,  and  manuscripts,"!  which 
were  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Unfinished  Business. 

This  report  was  made : 

The  Committee  on  Unfinished  Business  beg  leave  to  report  that  they 
find  none  which  has  not  been  referred  to  the  proper  Committee. 

Upon  the  "Resolutions,"  of  the  Bishop  of  Maryland,  "relative  to 
certain  books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,"  they  beg  leave  to  report 
that  they  have  conferred  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  Conservator, 
appointed  by  the  General  Convention,  and  beg  leave  to  lay  before 
the  House  the  following  communication  received  from  him: 

To  Bishops  Smith  and  Lee, 

Committee,  &c. 
Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sirs, 
The  facts  connected  with  my  duties  and  acts  as  a  Conservator  of 

*  JounialoJ  the  General  Con'vention,  1847,  p.  155.  ■\ Ibid.,  p.  102.  XllnJ.,  p.  161. 

C   xlvi  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Church  Documents,  I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  state,  and  it  may  be 
considered  as  a  "Report,"  if  it  be  deemed  best  so  to  consider  it. 

1.  The  pecuniary  expense  attending  the  procuring  of  these  Docu- 
ments was  borne  by  me,  with  the  exception  of  $1500,  which  I  begged 
from  Trinity  Church,  New-York,  and  $100  jiresented  to  me  by-  a 
gentleman  of  New-York.  In  addition  to  these  sums,  the  business  cost 
me  $2500.* 

2.  The  Documents  from  England  are  all  bound,  and  on  the  cover 
of  each,  I  caused  to  be  printed  the  words,  ' '  Property  of  General  Con- 
vention," that  the  ownership  might  always  be  apparent.  Beside,  it  is 
expressed  fully,  in  the  inside  of  each,  with  a  statement  w  hence  the 
documents  came,  and  a  certificate  of  their  accuracy  as  copies. 

3.  To  these  Documents  I  have  since  added  a  great  many  others, 
from  the  papers  of  our  deceased  Bishops  and  Clergj'.  These,  as  fast 
as  I  arrange,  I  put  into  bound  volumes  also,  and  it  will  be  seen  the 
number  is  not  small,  M"hen  I  state  that  I  have  the  papers  of  Bishop 
White,  touching  the  Church,  those  of  Bishops  Hobart,  Ravenscroft, 
and  others;  those  of  Dr.  Smith,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  and  other 
Clergymen,  all  of  which  I  am  preserving  for  the  Church.  And  here 
I  would  mention  that  I  Mas  particular  in  preser\ing  in  bound  volumes 
the  Documents  which  Bishop  White  had  in  the  case  of  the  Conse- 
cration of  our  Bishops  anterior  to  his  death.  These  are  the  original 
evidence  of  our  Episcopal  succession,  and  therefore  important.  I  wish 
to  get  all  suhsequent  to  Bishop  White's  death,  to  keep  the  testimony 
complete.  Now,  all  these  Documents  are  kept  by  me  with  great  care, 
and  it  is  perfectly  understood  by  my  family  and  brethren  of  the  Clergy 
living  near  me,  that  all,  (should  I  die,)  must  be  delivered  to  the  Gen- 
eral Convention.  I  have  heretofore  made  a  list,  and  will,  for  further 
security,  send  Dr.  Wainwright,  when  I  reach  home,  a  full  list.  But 
it  will  not  be  full  long,  for  I  continue  adding  to  it. 

4.  I  have  also  many  printed  books  and  pamphlets,  (the  latter  are 

*  The  reader  will  notice  the  discrepancy  between  the  figures  here  given  and  those  in  his  report 
in  1838  on  page  xxxvii.  Ed. 

C  xlvii  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

bound  up  to  a  certain  time,)  which  are  yet  in'me,  but  which  I  have 
told  the  General  Convention,  I  shall  give  to  it,  when  I  have  finished 
my  use  of  them.  This  department  I  also  add  to  when  I  can. 

5.  I  am  using  all  the  materials  above  enumerated.  I  have  on  hand 
now,  partly  written,  histories  of  our  early  Church  in  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  North  and  South  Carolina ;  and  the  General  Convention 
was  kind  enough,  long  since,  to  pass  a  Resolution,  authorizing  me  to 
keep  all  I  had  in  possession  ^^  hile  I  needed  the  use  of  them  in  my  work. 
The  suggestion  that  the  library  of  the  General  Seminary  should  be 
their^«a/  place  of  deposit,  was  mine ;  but  such  it  was  understood  was 
not  to  be  the  case  until  I  finished  my  use  of  them. 

The  Church  may  be  assured  that  I  will  take  every  care  in  my  power 
of  these  Documents,  for  no  one  can  estimate  their  value  and  impor- 
tance more  than  I  do. 

Respectfully, 

Franxis  L.  Hawks. 
Oflober  20,  1847. 

The  Committee  further  report,  that  upon  referring  to  the  Journal  of 
the  Convention  of  1835  (p.  91),  they  find  in  Dr.  Hawks's  letter  to  the 
Convention,  he  expressly  says  that  ' '  he  must  be  permitted  to  retain 
possession  of  what  he  has  here  offered,  until  he  has  completed  the 
labors  which  he  has  marked  out  for  himself." 

In  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  it  is  but  reasonable  and  just,  that 
the  books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts  referred  to,  should  remain  in 
his  possession  for  the  purpose  to  Avhich  he  alludes. 
Appended  to  the  Report  the  Committee  presented  certain  Resolutions, 
which  were  discussed ;  when  — 

"Bishop  Whittingham,  seconded  by  Bishop  DeLancey,  oflered  the 
following  as  a  substitute,  which  was  accepted  by  the  Committee  and 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  House : 

"'Resolved,  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concurring. 
That  the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  Conservator  of  the  books, 
pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  relating  to  tlie  history  of  the  Church  in 
[  xlviii  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

these  United  States,  belonging  to  the  General  Convention,  and  now  in 
his  possession,  have  leave  to  retain  in  his  hands  the  said  books,  pam- 
phlets and  manuscripts,  so  long  as  he  shall  require  the  same  for  use, 
under  his  appointment  as  a  Historiographer  of  the  Church  ;  Provided, 
that  in  order  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  General  Convention  in  case 
of  Dr.  Hawks 's  death,  he  do  execute  a  declaration  of  trust  concern- 
ing the  said  books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  to  the  General  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  specifying  such  as  are  now  in  his  hands,  and  de- 
claring that  he  holds  the  same  in  trust  for  the  General  Convention ; 
said  declaration  of  trust  to  be  deposited  in  the  keeping  of  the  Regis- 
trar of  the  House  of  Bishops ;  —  and  further  Pivvided,  that  the  origi- 
nal documents  and  evidences  pertaining  to  the  consecrations  of  Bish- 
ops of  this  Church  be  not  included  in  this  permission,  but  left,  as 
required  by  the  fourth  Resolution  of  1835,  under  which  the  Conser- 
vator received  his  appointment."* 

The  formation  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Society  in  Sea- 
bury  Hall,  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  on  June  19,  1850,  revived  an 
interest  in  the  work  in  which  Dr.  Hawks  and  a  few  others  had  been 
engaged.  The  attendance  as  recorded  in  this  list  was  notable;  it  in- 
cluded the  presiding  Bishop  of  this  Church,  together  with  eight  bish- 
ops, fifteen  priests,  and  three  laymen. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  T.  C.  Brownell,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.  G.  W.  Doane,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.W.  H.  DeLancey,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.  W.  R.  Whitdngham,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.  Manton  Eastburn,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.  J.  P.  K.  Henshaw,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.  Carlton  Chase,  D.D. 
The  Rt.  Rev.  Alonzo  Potter,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  A.  Cleveland  Coxe. 
The  Rev.  C.  P.  Clarke. 

*  "Journal  of  the  General  Con'vention,  1847,  p.  152. 

[  xlix  ^ 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

The  Rev.  Theodore  Edson,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  F.  L.  Hawks,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  J.  A.  Hicks,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  Professor  A.  Jackson. 
The  Rev.  W.  C.  Mead,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  A.  Nichols. 
The  Rev.  J.  J.  Robertson,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  H.  B.  Sherman. 
The  Rev.  W.  B.  Stevens,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  Peter  Van  Pelt. 
The  Rev.  H.  J.  Whitehouse,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  J.  Williams,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin. 
Mr.  Edward  A.  Newton. 
Mr.  W.  T.  Webbe. 
Professor  Duncan  L.  Stewart. 

Bishop  Brownell  presided,  and  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin  of  Tren- 
ton, New  Jersey,  was  chosen  secretary.  A  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  adopted  and  these  officers  chosen : 

The  Rt.  Rev.  T.  C.  Brownell,  D.D.,  President. 
The  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  F ice- President. 
The  Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin,  Secretary. 
Frederick  S.  Winston,   Treasurer. 

Executive  Committee 
The  Rev.  William  Bacon  Stevens,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  Philip  Slaughter. 
The  Rev.  A.  B.  Paterson. 
The  Rev.  J.  H.  Hobart. 
The  Rev.  William  I.  Kip,  D.D. 
The  Rev.  T.  W.  Coit,  D.D. 
Henry  Reed. 

c  1 : 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

Wilkins  Updike. 
Hon.  Theron  Metcalf. 
John  H.  Alexander. 
Samuel  H.  Huntington. 
Robert  Bolton,  Jr. 

These  names  \\ill  be  recognized  as  those  of  men  known  as  historical 
students  and  representative  Churchmen. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  at  Cincinnati  in  the 
following  fall,  the  annual  meeting  was  held,  with  encouraging  results. 
It  was  expected  and  hoped  that  a  great  impetus  would  be  given  to  the 
searching  out  of  documents  and  traditions  in  every  diocese.  While 
some  definite  results  were  achieved,  the  progress  of  the  organization 
was  disappointing,  for  the  membership  dwindled,  and  only  two  vol- 
umes of  "Collections"  were  issued. 

In  the  initial  volimie*  some  material  from  the  General  Convention 
manuscripts  «as  used.  It  included  letters  of  the  Rev.  George  Keith 
and  the  Rev.  John  Talbot  of  Maryland,  the  ' '  travelling  missionaries ' ' 
of  the  Venerable  Propagation  Society,  1702-1704, t  some  letters  con- 
cerning the  Church  in  New  Jersey  and  the  Rev.  John  Talbot,  1705- 
1725  ;  %  a  list  of  persons  licensed  bv  the  Bishop  of  London  to  officiate 
in  the  Plantation  from  1745  to  1785  ;  §  the  state  of  the  Church  in  the 
colonies,  1703  to  1704;  ||  a  list  of  parishes  in  the  colonies,  1724  ;T[ 
Mr.  Blair's  mission  to  North  Carolina,  1703.** 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  Cincinnati 
from  October  2  to  October  16,  1850,  the  matter  was  not  considered. 
Dr.  Ogilby,  the  Registrar,  \\  as  then  in  Europe,  in  a  very  critical  state 
of  health.  On  Februarv  11,  1851,  he  died  at  Paris,  in  the  forty-first 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  student  and  a  scholar,  a  man  greatly  beloved, 
and  sincerely  mourned. 

On  March  26,  1851,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jarvis  died  at  his  home  in  Mid- 

*  CotkSions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Society  for  1851,  p.  xl. 

f  IbiJ.,  pp.  55-86.  Jii/V/.,  pp.  107-120.  ^IbiJ. 

II  IbiJ.,  pp.  99-106.  ^  IbiJ.,  pp.  121-128.  ** Ibid.,  pp.  183-187. 

C  li  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

dletonn,  Connecticut,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  is  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  profound  and  universal  scholars  of  his  age. 
As  historiographer  of  the  American  Church  he  prepared  and  published 
two  volumes,  in  which  his  familiaritv  with  the  very  intricate  subject 
of  chronology  and  acquaintance  with  even  the  most  obscure  ancient 
historians  and  authors  is  apparent  on  every  page.*  His  contempo- 
raries expressed  their  very  sincere  regret  that  Dr.  Jarvis  could  not 
complete  the  large  Mork  for  the  Church  which  he  had  planned. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
New  York  from  October  5  to  October  26,  1853,  a  resolution  was 
offered  in  the  House  of  Bishops  on  October  24,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
Wainwright,  Provisional  Bishop  of  New  York,  and  seconded  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Green  of  Mississippi,  embodying  a  canon  defining  the 
duties  of  the  Registrar.  It  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  sent  to 
the  House  of  Deputies  for  concurrence.  By  that  House  it  was  referred 
to  the  Committee  on  Canons,  of  which  Dr.  William  Cooper  Mead 
of  Connecticut  was  the  chairman.  It  was  reported  favourably  and 
adopted.  With  some  changes  the  Canon  is  still  in  force. f  The  nomi- 
nation of  a  Registrar  in  the  place  of  Dr.  Ogilby  was  made  in  the  House 
of  Bishops  on  October  2 1 ,  when  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Isaac  Haight, 
Professor  of  Pastoral  Theology  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary, 

*  httroiluBion  to  the  History  of  the  Church:  Being  a  new  Enquiry  into  the  true  Date  and  Birth 
and  Death  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  containing  an  original  Harmony  of  the 
Four  Gospels  now  first  arranged  in  the  order  of  time,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  Historiographer  of  the  Church,  member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  of  Boston,  the  American  Antiqua- 
rian Society  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  the  Historical  Societies  of  New  York  and  Connecti- 
cut, corresponding  member  of  the  National  Institute  at  Washington.  New  York  :  Published  by 
Harper  £f  Brothers,  No.  82  Cliff  St.,  184.5,  PP-  "^'i  ^'S-  The  Church  of  the  Redeemed  or  the 
History  of  the  Mediatorial  Kingdom,  vol.  i.  Containing  the  first  five  Periods:  from  the  Fall  of 
Adam  in  Paradise  to  the  rejeiftion  of  the  Jews  and  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles.  By  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Historiographer  of  the  Church,  author  of  an  IntroduBion 
to  the  History  of  the  Church,  a  Harmony  of  the  Four  Gospels  now  first  arranged  in  the  order  of 
time,  Tnvo  Discourses  on  Prophecv,  with  an  appendix,  etc.  Edition  recommended  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conventions  of  1847  and  1850. 

fFor  the  aflion  of  the  General  Convention  of  1853,  see  Journal,  1853,  pp.  106,  118,120.  For 
the  Canon,  Constitutions  and  Canons,  Appendix  to  the  Journal,  1853,  pp.  60,  61.  It  is  Canon  IV 
of  1853.  For  the  duties  of  the  Registrar  at  the  present  time,  see  Constitutions  and  Canons,  1789- 
1907,  Canon  46  of  the  General  Convention,  Appendix  to  the  Journal,  1907,  pp.  112,  113. 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

and  assisting  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  was  chosen.  As 
he  at  once  declined,  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  assisting  in  Trin- 
ity Parish,  New  York  City,  was  nominated,  and  immediately  con- 
firmed bv  the  House  of  Deputies. 

In  the  meantime  the  historiographer  was  arranging  within  the  cov- 
ers and  on  the  stubs  of  old  cheques,  vouchers,  or  certificate  books, 
many  of  the  papers  which  had  come  into  his  hands,  particularly  those 
of  Bishop  White,  Bishop  Hobart,  Bishop  Ravenscroft,  Dr.  William 
Smith,  and  Dr.  Samuel  Jarvis.  He  was  making  an  index  to  the  tran- 
scripts procured  in  England,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  busy  life  as  rector 
of  a  city  parish,  finding  time  to  prepare  some  notes  for  the  volumes 
proposed  to  be  issued  concerning  each  diocese. 

W  hen  the  Re V .  Dr .  Robert  Bolton ,  in  1 8  5  5 ,  prepared  his  "  History , ' ' 
which  gathered  from  everv  possible  source  the  facts  concerning  the 
Church  in  Westchester  County,  New  York,  he  made  excellent  use 
of  the  manuscripts  in  the  custody  of  Dr.  Hawks.  In  his  preface  he 
says:  "He  cannot  omit  expressing  his  particular  obligation  to  the 
Rev.  Francis  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Historiographer  of  the  Church, 
for  the  help  which  he  afforded  him  in  transcribing  the  letters  of  the 
missionaries  and  for  his  readiness  in  enabling  him  to  examine  the 
other  treasures  in  his  valuable  library."* 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  in  the  city  of  Rich- 
mond from  October  5  to  October  22,  1859,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
George  Burgess,  Bishop  of  Maine,  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops 
on  Fridav,  October  7,  the  List  or  "Catalogue"  prepared  by  him  of 
all  the  Deacons  ordained  in  this  Church  since  the  introduction  of 
the  Episcopate.  Upon  his  motion,  it  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
Registrar  with  instructions  to  continue  the  List  from  year  to  year. 

«  History  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Westchester,  from  its  foundation,  A.D.,  1693,  to 
A.D.,  1 8  5  3,  by  Robert  Bolton,  author  of  the  History  of  Westchester  County,  and  a  member  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal,  New  York,  and  the  Georgia  Historical  Societies.  "  The  Society  for  Pro- 
pagating the  Gospel  is  the  brightest  light  shining  in  the  Candlestick  of  the  Reformation;  it 
has  done  more,  and  is  doing  more,  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  than  all  Christendom  united."  Hon. 
Rufus  King,  p.  vii.  New  York:  Stanford  and  Swords,  Publishers,  1855. 

I    liii    3 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

A  committee,  the  Bishop  of  Georgia,  Dr.  Elliott;  Mississippi,  Dr. 
Green;  and  Connecticut,  Dr.  Williams,  made  a  report  thanking  Dr. 
Burgess  for  the  gift,  and  making  provisions  for  its  continuance.* 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
Richmond  from  October  5  to  October  22,  1859,  a  resolution  was 
introduced  in  the  House  of  Deputies  concerning  the  need  of  a  re- 
publication of  the  early  Journals.  It  was  referred  to  a  special  com- 
mittee consisting  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Higbee,  Hauks,  and  Howe,  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Willey  and  Perry,  the  Hon.  Samuel  B.  Ruggles,  and 
Mr.  Simeon  Ide.  In  a  report  which  reviewed  previous  attempts  and 
recited  some  of  the  measures  taken  to  preser\e  historic  material,  the 
committee  unanimouslv  recommended  the  proposed  publication,  but 
without  expense  to  the  Convention. f  The  report  m  as  adopted  by  the 
House,  and  concurred  in  by  the  House  of  Bishops.  The  publication 
was  to  be  under  the  direction  of  this  joint  committee:  the  Provi- 
sional Bishop  of  New  York,  Dr.  Horatio  Potter,  the  Bishop  of  Con- 
necticut, Dr.  John  Williams,  and  New  Jersey,  Dr.  Odenheimer,  the 
Rev.  Drs.  Higbee,  Hawks,  Ho\^"e,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  ^\'illey  and 
Perry,  the  Hon.  Samuel  B.  Ruggles,  and  Mr.  Simeon  Ide.  By  a 
resolution  of  the  committee  at  a  meeting  held  on  April  9,  1860,  Dr. 
Haw  ks  and  Mr.  Perry  w  ere  requested  to  prepare  historical  notes  and 
supervise  the  reprint  of  the  Journals.  The  first  \olume  appeared  in 
1861.  It  contained  the  Journals  from  1785  to  1808,  with  an  histori- 
cal appendix  giving  a  full  account  of  the  measures  for  organizing  the 
Church  after  the  Revolution  in  the  various  states,  the  obtaining  of 
the  Episcopate,  and  the  eftbrts  for  "Continental  Union,"  which  was 
finally  effected  in  October,  1789.  The  authors  drew  largely  upon  the 
manuscript  archives,  and  the  Bishop  Parker  correspondence  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Perry.  The  title  of  the  volume  is:  "Journals  of 
the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America  from  a.d.,  1785  to  a.d.,  1853  inclusive. 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Comjention,  1859,  pp.  151-135. 
\lbid. 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

Published  bv  order  of  the  General  Convention,  with  illustrative  His- 
torical Notes  and  Appendices,  by  the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D. , 
LL.D.,  and  the  Rev.  William  Stevens  Perry,  M.A.  Vol.  I,  Phila- 
delphia: Published  by  Joseph  W.  Rayner,  1861,  8vo,  pp.  4,  iii, 
651."  The  ' '  Notes ' '  have  this  separate  title-page :  ' '  Historical  Notes 
and  Documents  illustrative  of  the  preceding  Journals,  compiled  from 
various  sources  by  the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and 
the  Rev.  William  Stevens  Perry,  M.A." 

In  1862  Mr.  James  Pott,  the  church  publisher,  and  son-in-law  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  commenced  the  publication,  in  numbers  of  about 
thirty-two  pages  each,  of  the ' '  Transcripts ' '  concerning  the  Church  in 
Connecticut.  While  supposed  to  be  printed  exactly  as  they  were  copied, 
an  examination  shows  many  difl'erences  in  punctuation,  abbreviations, 
and  even  phraseology.  The  only  notation  was  a  brief  sketch  of  Colo- 
nel Caleb  Heathcote;  an  account  of  the  Seabury  family,  written  by 
Mr.  William  Jones  Seabury,  then  a  young  lawyer  in  New  York,  now 
a  doctor  in  divinity  and  senior  professor  in  the  General  Theological 
Seminary ;  and  a  sketch  of  the  state  of  the  Church  after  the  Revolution, 
the  efforts  for  organization,  the  election  and  consecration  of  Bishop 
Seabury,  attempts  to  effect  a  "Continental  Union  "  until  its  final  suc- 
cess in  October,  1789.  This  sketch  was  compiled  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Perry,  who  used  freely  the  Bishop  Parker  correspondence  which  was  in 
his  possession,  and  other  rare  manuscript  authorities.  When  the  series 
was  completed,  it  was  published  in  book  form  in  two  small  volumes.* 
The  subscriptions  were  few,  and  the  publisher  lost  much  of  the  money 
he  invested  in  the  enterprise.  A  single  number  upon  South  Carolina 
was  also  issued. 

With  the  same  care  as  in  his  previous  work,  the  historiographer 
arranged  the  documents  concerning  Virginia  for  publication.  This 
task  had  just  been  completed  when  Francis  Lister  Hawks  died,  Sep- 

*  Documentary  History  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  con- 
taining  numerous  hitherto  unpublished  documents  concerning  the  Church  in  Connefticut,  Fran- 
cis L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Wilham  Stevens  Perry,  M.A.,  Editors.  New  York :  James  Pott, 
Pubhsher,  No.  5  Cooper  Union,  Fourth  Avenue,  1863,  8vo,  vol.  i,  pp.  328;  vol.  ii,  pp.  359. 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

tember  26,  1866.  The  Church  is  greatly  indebted  to  him  for  pre- 
serving from  destruction  material  for  her  history  of  inestimable  value. 
His  historical  work  was  only  a  part  of  his  active  and  useful  career  in 
the  Church  of  God. 

When  the  Bishoj)s  gathered  in  New  York  Citv  for  the  consecration 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Channing  Moore  Williams,  as  Missionary  Bishop  of 
China,  on  October  3,  1866,  in  St.  John's  Chapel,  they  held  a  special 
session  for  the  election  of  a  Missionary  Bishop  for  Montana.  The  im- 
portance of  securing  at  once  the  documents  and  other  papers  in  the 
custody  of  Dr.  Hawks  was  fully  realized.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Williams 
of  Connecticut  oifered  this  resolution,  which  was  unanimously  adopted : 

''''Resolved,  That  the  Re\'.  W.  S.  Perry  be  appointed  to  receive  from 
the  Executors  or  Administrators  of  the  late  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  all  the  Documents  belonging  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion, which  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Hawks'  decease,  were  in  his  hands, 
to  give  proper  receipts  for  the  same,  and  to  hold  them  subject  to  the 
order  of  the  next  General  Convention." 

At  the  special  session  of  the  House  of  Bishops  held  in  St.  John's 
Chapel,  New  York  City,  on  February  5,  1868,  this  further  action  ^\■as 
taken : 

''''Resolved,  That  the  Manuscripts  and  Documents  obtained  from  the 
executors  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  by  the  Rev.  William  Stevens 
Perry,  acting  under  appointment  of  this  House  at  its  session  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1866,  be  and  hereby  are  continued  in  the  hands  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Perry,  for  the  purpose  of  arrangement  and  cataloguing,  and  that 
he  be  instructed  to  report  to  the  General  Convention  at  its  next  meeting 
in  October,  such  a  list  of  these  papers  as  may  indicate  their  nature  and 
render  them  serviceable  to  those  interested  in  historical  investigation. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops  of  and  and 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Perry,  be  empowered  to  rearrange  the  manuscripts  and 
papers  forming  the  correspondence  of  Bishops  White,  Hobart,  and 
Ravenscroft,  and  the  Rev.  Drs.  Wm.  Smith  of  Philadelphia,  Samuel 
Peters,  and  others  not  alreadv  mounted  and  prepared  for  consultation 

'  c  ivi : 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

and  use;  and  also  to  arrange  and  complete,  if  possible,  the  files  of  the  ori- 
ginal editions  of  our  Journals  begun  by  Bishop  White  and  continued  b\' 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  and  that  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work,  the  Reg- 
istrar of  the  General  Convention  be  instructed  to  furnish  such  \olumes 
or  copies  of  Journals  now  on  file  in  his  charge,  as  may  aid  in  complet- 
ing these  files ;  said  perfected  sets  as  soon  as  arranged,  completed  and 
bound,  to  be  recommitted  to  the  care  of  the  Registrar  for  safe-keeping. 

"And  whereas  the  publication  of  the  manuscripts  transcribed  from 
the  Archives  of  the  \^enerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  from  the  records  at  Fulham  and  the  Li- 
brary at  Lambeth,  undertaken  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Perry  as  joint  editors  has  been  necessarily  interrupted  bv 
the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  'Historiographer  of  the  American 
Church,'  and  whereas  the  two  volumes  of  the  Annals  of  the  Church 
in  Connecticut  and  the  initial  chapters  of  the  Annals  of  the  Church  in 
South  Carolina  attest  the  value  and  importance  of  this  work ;  therefore, 

''''Resolved,  That  the  surviving  editor  be  authorized  under  the  author- 
ity of  this  House,  to  continue  this  publication  in  the  manner  and  on  the 
principles  observed  in  the  portion  of  the  w  ork  alreadv  issued ;  there 
being  no  pecuniary  obligation  assumed  by  this  House  or  bv  the  Gen- 
eral Convention,  and  the  restrictions  as  to  the  use  of  these  papers  on 
which  their  transcription  was  originally  permitted  in  England  being 
still  observed,  and  that  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work,  this  House 
would  recommend  that,  if  possible,  the  volumes  of  this  series  be  pri- 
vately printed  by  the  subscription  of  those  interested  in  this  subject, 
instead  of  being  published  for  promiscuous  sale. 

The  Presiding  Bishop  nominated  Bishop  Williams  of  Connecticut, 
and  Bishop  Ste\ens  as  the  Committee  to  act  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perry 
in  accordance  with  the  abo\e  Resolutions." 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
New  York  from  October  7  to  October  29,  1868,  Bishop  Williams, 
from  the  special  committee,  presented  this  report  to  the  House  of 
Bishops  on  October  22  : 

:  Ivii  J 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  House  of  Bishops  at  its  meeting  in 
February,  1868,  to  examine  and  report  upon  the  manuscript  and 
printed  vohimes  received  by  the  Rev.  William  Stevens  Perry,  from 
the  executors  of  the  late  Rev.  Francis  Lister  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
under  the  direction  and  by  the  authority  of  this  House,  would  hereby 
report : 

That  the  said  manuscript  and  printed  volumes  have  been  carefully  and 
minutely  examined  by  them,  and  are  now  in  condition  to  be  depos- 
ited in  the  Archives  of  the  Church.  These  manuscripts  and  printed 
volumes  comprise  the  transcripts  made  in  England,  at  the  expense  of 
the  General  Convention,  from  the  original  documents  in  the  Archi- 
episcopal  Library  at  Lambeth,  from  the  Library  of  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don at  Fulham,  and  from  the  letter-books  of  the  Acnerable  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts ;  in  all,  eighteen 
folio  volumes  of  historical  matter,  the  value  of  \\  hich  cannot  be  too 
highly  estimated.  Besides  these  important  folios,  this  collection  com- 
prises the  correspondence  of  Bishop  White,  Bishop  Hobart,  and 
Bishop  Ravenscroft,  and  the  Rev.  Drs.  William  Smith,  and  Samuel 
Peters.  These  letter-books  containing  the  letters  of  all  who  were 
prominent  in  the  organization  of  our  Church,  and  minutely  detail- 
ing every  step  of  the  struggle  for  the  Episcopate  in  the  free  and  imre- 
strained  language  of  friendly  communications, — have,  besides,  the 
original  Minutes  of  our  early  Conventions,  both  General  and  Dioce- 
san,— the  autograph  letters  of  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  the  Mother 
Church,  the  celebrated  letter  of  Dr.  Coke  to  Bishop  White,  touching 
the  union  of  the  Methodists  wiih  the  Church,  and  other  papers  of 
scarcely  less  moment.  The  printed  volumes  comprise  the  early  printed 
Journals  gathered  by  the  wise  forethought  of  Bishop  White  and  pre- 
serving documents  of  great  value,  and  importance  in  many  cases 
unique.  Together  with  these,  are  volumes  of  controversial,  historical, 
and  statistical  pamphlets,  thro\\ing  light  upon  many  of  the  ^exed 
questions  of  our  own  time,  and  furnishing  an  admirable  nucleus  for  a 
complete  and  authoritative  collection  of  .Aj-chives,  the  preservation  and 

:  iviii  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

continuation  of  which  should  be  at  once  undertaken,  if  for  no  other 
reason,  for  the  praise  and  in  memory  of  our  fathers. 

Deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  great  and  constandy  increasing 
value  of  this  collection,  commenced  by  the  venerable  Bishop  White, 
and  continued  bv  the  late  Historiographer  of  the  Church,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Hawks,  and  in  connection  with  the  matter  of  their  particular  ap- 
pointment, your  Committee  would  call  attention  to  the  proposed  issue 
in  fitting  stvle  and  manner,  of  the  manuscript  Annals  of  the  Amer- 
ican Colonial  Church,  the  originals  of  which — eighteen  noble  folio  vol- 
umes— form  a  most  valuable  portion  of  these  Archives.  They  would 
add  the  expression  of  their  hope  that  the  few  remaining  subscribers 
necessary  to  ensure  the  success  of  this  plan  may  be  secured  at  once, 
and  that  thus  a  \\'ork  mav  be  successfully  undertaken,  the  completion 
of  which  will  be  alike  creditable  to  the  promoters  of  so  ^\orthy  an 
enterprise  and  to  the  piety  and  zeal  of  our  fathers  in  the  faith,  m  hose 
painstaking  efforts  for  the  Church  these  annals  so  fully  present. 

Your  Committee  cannot  close  their  Report  without  placing  on  record 
their  senseoftheChurch's  lasring obligation  to  its  late  Historiographer, 
the  Rev.  Francis  Lister  Hawks,  D.D. ,  LL.D. ,  whose  labors  in  collect- 
ing and  preserving  these  manuscripts  and  documents  have  sa\edtothe 
Church  the  material  for  her  future  historian's  use.  The  collection  itself 
may  well  bear  his  honored  name,  and  go  down  to  posterity  as  an  attes- 
tation of  his  labors  and  success  in  elucidating  the  Church's  history. 

In  view  of  the  action  taken  by  the  present  General  Convention,  in 
a  joint  vote  of  the  two  Houses,  creating  a  Commission  of  Archives, 
the  Committee  have  no  Resolutions  to  present,  and  respectfully  ask 
to  be  discharged. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

J.  Williams, 

William  Bacon  Stevens, 

William  Stevens  Perry, 

Committee.* 
*  Journal  of  the  General  Coni'ention,  1868,  p.  227. 

:  lix : 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

The  heirs  of  Bishop  White  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops  on 
October  20,  through  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Stevens,  Bishop  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, this  memorial,  which  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Me- 
morials : 

MEMORIAL   FROM  THE  DESCENDANTS  OF  BISHOP  WHITE 

To  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Convention  Assembled. 
The  Memorial  of  the  undersigned,  descendants  of  the  late  Rt.  Rev. 
William  White,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  respectfully  showeth  : 

That  the  said  Bishop  White,  some  few  years  prior  to  his  death, 
loaned  to  the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  historical  examination,  the  major  portion  of  his  collection 
of  MSS.,  consisting  of  correspondence  between  himself  and  many 
Bishops,  Clergymen,  and  Laymen,  in  this  and  other  coimtries;  as 
also  other  papers,  bearing  principally  on  the  establishment  of  the 
Church  in  America,  and  being  of  very  great  value.  That  these  papers 
Avere  in  Dr.  Hawks's  ctistody  at  the  death  of  Bishop  White,  but 
were  not  claimed  by  the  latter's  executors,  because  of  their  under- 
standing that  Dr.  Hawks  had  not  concluded  his  investigations,  and 
so  remained  with  Dr.  Hawks  until  his  decease,  September  26,  1866, 
no  claim  having  as  yet  been  laid  to  them  for  the  reason  above  stated ; 
that  on  October  27,  1866,  subsequendy  to  Dr.  Hawks's  death,  a  de- 
scendant of  Bishop  White,  and  agent  of  your  memorialists,  called 
upon  one  of  the  executors  of  his  estate,  and  then  did  make  claim,  to 
which  answer  by  letter  was  returned  under  date  of  Noxember  16, 
1866,  by  the  said  executor,  to  the  effect  that  he  would  be  heard  from 
in  due  time  upon  the  subject;  that,  not\\  ithstanding  this  reply,  no- 
thing further  has  been  heard,  nor  was  an3-thing  known  as  regards 
these  papers  by  your  memorialists,  until  a  few  months  since,  when 
information  was  received  that  they  had  all  been  placed  by  Dr.  Hawks's 
executors  in  the  custody  of  your  venerable  bodv. 

■    ■  n  ix  J 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Your  memorialists  furtlier  show  that  they  represent  all  the  descend- 
ants of  the  said  Bishop  White,  with  the  exception  of  two,  who  are 
now  residents  of  distant  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  with  whom 
your  memorialists  have  put  themselves  in  communication ;  that  they 
have  every  reason  to  believe,  and  do  believe,  that  the  assent  and  rati- 
fication of  the  same,  will  in  due  course  be  had  to  this  action  of  your 
memorialists,  although  it  has  been  impossible  by  this  date  to  obtain 
it  for  presentation  herewith. 

Your  memorialists  therefore  pray,  that  your  Reverend  Body  take  into 
consideration  their  claim  to  the  said  papers,  and  acknowledge  the 
same,  if  in  your  \visdom  it  seems  just ;  and  that  they  be  permitted 
hereby  to  put  upon  record  their  wish  to  make  a  gift  of  the  same  to 
the  House  of  Bishops,  and  their  successors,  when  such  gift  can  be 
perfected  by  all  the  parties  interested  therein . 

Elizabeth  Macpherso.v  Wiltbaxk, 

Elizabeth  White  Reed, 

William  White  Bronson, 

Mary  H.  Montgomery, 

Rebecca  H.  White, 

J.  Brinton  White, 

Thos.  H.  Montgomery,  by  authority, 

Maria  H.  White, 

Catherine  A.  White, 

Sarah  F.  Biddle, 

William  A\"hite, 

George  H.  White. 

Philadelphia,  Oftober  15,  1868.* 

This  report  was  made  by  the  Committee : 

The  Standing  Committee  on  Memorials  and  Petitions,  to  whom 
was  referred  the  Memorial  of  the  descendants  of  the  late  Right  Rev. 
William  White,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  and 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Con'vention,  1868,  pp.  216  and  4.31. 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

Presiding  Bishop,  setting  forth  that  certain  papers  of  much  histori- 
cal interest  had  been  loaned  by  their  venerable  ancestor  to  the  late 
Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and  upon  the  decease  of 
Dr.  Haw  ks  had  been  placed  in  the  custody  of  the  House  of  Bishops, 
asking  of  this  House  a  recognition  of  their  right  of  property,  and 
permission  to  put  upon  record  their  a\  ish  to  make  a  gift  of  the  same 
to  the  House  of  Bishops,  when  such  gift  can  be  perfected  by  all  the 
parties  interested  therein,  report  the  following  Resolutions: 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  hereby  ackno\\ledge  that  the 
right  of  property  in  the  papers  loaned  by  the  late  Bishop  White,  of 
Pennsylvania,  to  the  late  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
remains  in  the  heirs  and  descendants  of  Bishop  White. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  ajipreciate  the  generous  proposal  of  the 
Memorialists  to  present  to  the  Bishops  the  above  mentioned  papers, 
and  return  their  cordial  thanks  for  the  promise  of  a  donation  of  so 
much  historic  value. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Alfred  Lee. 

J.  Johns. 

A.  Cleveland  Coxe.* 

New  York,  Oaober  zz^i  1868. 

A  fuller  appreciation  of  the  archives  of  the  Church  was  shown  by 
the  action  of  the  House  of  Deputies  in  response  to  requests  from 
several  dioceses  concerning  transcripts  of  the  List  of  Deacons  pre- 
pared by  Bishop  Burgess. f  These  requests  were  referred  to  a  special 
committee,  m  ho  made  this  report  through  its  chairman,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Beardsley  of  Connecticut : 

The  special  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution  to  the 
effect  that  the  Diocese  of  Vermont  ha\'e  permission  to  make  a  tran- 
script of  the  Catalogue  of  the  Ordinations  in  the  American  Church, 
prepared  by  the  late  Bishop  Burgess,  and  also  the  Memorial  and  state- 

*  "Journal  of  the  General  Con-vention,  1868,  p.  227.  f  IbiJ.,  pp.  32,  33,  3+,  78,  79. 

C  Ixii  -\ 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

ment  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bailey,  of  Vermont,  embracing  Preambles  and 
Resolutions  adopted  by  the  Convention  of  that  Diocese  to  the  same 
effect,  together  with  similar  memorials  from  the  Diocese  of  Maine, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island  and  New  Hampshire — would  respect- 
fully present  the  following  Report : 

The  fact  that  five  Dioceses  have  asked  for  the  loan  of  the  same  manu- 
script or  for  permission  to  make  copies  of  it,  is  an  evidence  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  Committee  of  its  value,  and  shows  that  it  ought  to  be  pre- 
served with  the  utmost  care.  It  was  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops 
by  the  late  Bishop  of  Maine,  in  1859,  and  at  that  time  the  Bishops 
adopted  a  resolution  requesting  the  Registrar  to  continue  the  list — 
a  list  M"hich  is  said  to  "contain  the  name  of  ever}-  person  admitted  to 
Deacon's  orders  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  from  the  time  of  its  establishment  down  to  a  comparati\ely 
recent  date." 

The  record,  if  thus  enlarged,  becomes  more  valuable  with  every 
passing  year,  and  the  time  may  come  when  the  Convention  will  see 
fit  to  authorize  its  publication.  Those  who  are  making  investigations 
with  a  view  to  illustrate  the  history  of  the  Church  in  their  respective 
Dioceses  ought  to  have  access  to  the  archives  under  such  restrictions 
as  the  constituted  authorities  may  impose,  and  while  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Committee,  it  \\ould  be  improper  to  loan  the  manuscript  for  the 
purpose  indicated  in  the  memorials  and  resolutions  referred  to  them, 
they  yet  believe  that  some  facilities  should  be  afforded  to  the  Dioceses 
for  procuring  the  information  contained  in  the  Catalogue  of  Bishop 
Burgess. 

And  furthermore,  it  has  occurred  to  your  Committee  in  considering 
these  memorials  that  it  \\ould  be  well  to  create  a  permanent  Commis- 
sion composed  of  an  equal  number  of  Bishops,  Clergymen  and  Lay- 
men, who  shall  have  power  to  control  the  archives  of  the  Church  and 
other  articles  belonging  to  the  General  Convention,  and  to  whom  dur- 
ing the  interval  between  its  sessions,  application  may  be  made  for 
liberty  to  consult  pamphlets  or  copy  manuscripts  according  to  rules 
C  Ixiii  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

and  regulations  which  the  Commission  might  estabhsh.  The  Com- 
mittee, therefore,  would  propose  for  adoption  these  resolutions : 

Resolved,  The  House  of  Bishops  concurring,  that  the  Registrar  be 
and  he  hereby  is  authorized  to  furnish  to  any  Diocese  or  Dioceses 
a  copy  of  the  Chronological  Catalogue  of  Ordination  prepared  by  the 
late  Bishop  Burgess,  the  expense  of  such  copy  being  defrayed  by  the 
Diocese  or  Dioceses  asking  for  the  same — but  nothing  herein  shall 
be  construed  to  authorize  the  Registrar  to  part  with  the  custody  of  said 
Catalogue. 

Resolved  further.  The  House  of  Bishops  concurring,  that  a  perma- 
nent Commission  of  Bishops,  Clergymen  and  Laymen  be  created, 
composed  of  two  of  each  order,  who  shall  have  power  to  control  the 
archives  and  other  articles  belonging  to  the  General  Convention,  and 
who  may  direct  their  removal  and  provide  for  their  safe  keeping,  to 
\\hom  in  the  interval  between  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention 
application  may  be  made  for  copies  of  important  documents,  and  who 
shall  have  power  to  edit  and  publish  any  manuscript  without  charges 
to  this  body,  and,  in  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  the  Registrar 
or  of  his  disability,  shall  appoint  a  successor  until  the  next  meeting 
of  the  General  Convention. 

E.  E.  Beardsley. 
John  B.  Clemson. 

Hugh  W.  Sheffey. 

New  York,  Oftober  19th,  1868. 

The  Rt.  Re\'.  Dr.  Odenheimer  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
Stevens  of  Pennsyhania,  represented  the  House  of  Bishops. 

The  members  appointed  by  the  House  of  Deputies  were  the  Rev. 
Eben  Ed\vards  Beardsley,  D.D.,  of  Connecticut;  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Winthrop  Coit  and  the  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  LL.D.,  of  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts;  and  the  Hon.  Hamilton  Fish,  LL.D.,  of  New- 
York  City.*  The  Rev.  William  Stevens  Perry  of  St.   Michael's 

*For  particulars  see  Journal  of  the  Ge/wral  Convention,  i868,  pp.  78,  79,  131,  166,  167,  215, 
216,  221,  246,  251. 

C  Ixiv  J 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Church,  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  Mas  appointed  historiographer.* 
Soon  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Convention,  the  new  his- 
toriographer issued  a  prospectus  of  a  series  of  volumes  to  be  known  as, 
"Historical  Collections  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Churches." 
The  \ olumes  ^vere  to  be  in  form  ro}al  quarto,  printed  upon  a  very 
hea\'y  unglazed  paper  from  a  fount  of  type  with  a  letter  slightly 
larger  than  that  known  as  pica.  The  edition  was  to  be  limited  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty  numbered  copies.  Dr.  Perry  A\as  to  be  the 
editor.  The  prospectus  was  sent  to  prominent  Churchmen,  historical 
students,  historical  societies,  colleges,  and  public  libraries.  While  the 
subscribers  were  not  as  many  as  had  been  expected,  a  sufficient  sum 
of  money  was  obtained  to  warrant  sending  to  press  the  first  volume, 
that  upon  Virginia.  It  was  annotated  by  Dr.  Perry,  and  printed  at 
the  Church  Press  in  Hartford  b}-  Mallor\-  and  Company,  the  pub- 
Hshers  of  "The  Churchman."  It  appeared  in  the  fall  of  1870. f 
It  has  this  dedication  : 

IN  MEMORV  OF 

FRANCIS  LISTER  HAWKS,    D.D.,    LL.D., 

HISTORIOGRAPHER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  CHURCH, 

TO  WHOSE  ZEAL  AND  PERSONAL  EFFORTS 

THE  COLLECTION  AND  THE  PRESERVATION  OF  THE  DOCUMENTS 

AND  PAPERS  CONTAINED  IN  THIS  WORK  ARE  DUE, 

THIS  VOLUME   IS  INSCRIBED. 

In  an  Introduction,  Dr.  Perrv  emphasizes  the  value  of  the  papers  in 
the  volume  as  material  from  which  the  history  of  the  Church  in 
the  "Old  Dominion"  must  be  drawn.  While  some  of  the  documents 
often  displayed  personal  or  partisan  prejudice,  and  some  "were  A\rit- 
ten  with  sinister  ends  in  view,"  yet  they  are  all  necessary  for  a  true 

*  "Journal  of  the  General  Con'vention,  1868,  p.  230. 

f  Historical  Colleilions  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Church,  edited  by  William  Stevens  Perry, 
D.D.,  volume  i,  Virginia.  Printed  for  the  Subscribers,  mdccclxx,  royal  quarto,  pp.  xvii,  5S5. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Winthrop  Coit's  copy  is  No.  3S,  and  was  received  November  19, 
1870.  Dr.  Coit  was  the  reftor  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Troy,  and  professor  of  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory in  the  Berkeley  Divinitv  School. 

[   Ixv   ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

and  just  history  of  the  period  when  Church  and  State  were  closely 
united.  Since  the  transcripts  were  made,  some  of  the  original  docu- 
ments have  disappeared  or  have  been  accidentally  destroyed.  This 
enhances  the  value  of  the  printed  volume.  Dr.  Perry  says:  "This 
Volume  has  been  printed  by  the  present  Editor  as  jjrepared  for  the 
press  by  his  revered  instructor  and  friend  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks. 
It  seemed  fitting  that  the  initial  volume  of  this  collection  of  MSS. 
should  be  given  to  the  World  as  it  passed  from  the  lo\ing  hands 
of  him  whom  we  must  ever  recognize  as  the  father  of  our  American 
Church  History." 

In  addition  to  the  notes,  Dr.  Perry  gives  a  transcript  of  the  draft 
of  letters  patent  for  the  creation  of  a  bishopric  in  Virginia  in  1672, 
found  among  the  papers  of  Sir  Leolin  Jenkins  in  All  Souls'  College, 
Oxford,  which  was  given  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Quintard  of  Tennes- 
see when  he  visited  Oxford  during  the  Lambeth  Conference  of  1867, 
and  by  that  prelate  presented  in  1868  to  the  House  of  Bishops.* 

The  second  vohime  contained  the  letters  and  documents  concern- 
ing Pennsylvania,  t  The  Introduction  is  dated, ' '  Trinity  Rectory,  Ge- 
neva, N.  Y.,  Feast  of  St.  Matthew  the  Apostle,  1871."  It  has  this 
dedication :  ' ' To  the  Right  Reverend  William  Bacon  Ste\ens,  D.D. , 
LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Penns3-lvania,  this  Volume,  the  result  of  histori- 
cal investigations  first  undertaken  at  his  suggestion,  and  continued 
with  his  constant  sympathy  and  encouragement,  is  respectfully  in- 
scribed." 

On  Monday,  October  9,  the  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania  presented  from 
the  descendants  of  Bishop  White,  a  letter  and  deed  of  gift  of  certain 
historical  documents  which  were  then  in  the  custody  of  the  House. 

*  Journal  of  the  Getieral  Connjention,  i86S,  pp.  228,  229.  For  notices  of  this  attempt  for  an  Amer- 
ican Episcopate  see:  "  Efforts  to  obtain  the  Episcopate  before  the  Revolution,"  by  the  Rev.  Fran- 
cis L.  Hawks,  D.D. ,  in  ColleSiions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Society,  for  the  year  i  S  5 1 , 
pp.  138,  139.  The  Anglican  Episcopate  and  the  American  Colonies,  by  Arthur  Lyon  Cross,  LL.D., 
1902,  pp.  90,  91.  American  Church  History,  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hooper,  in  The  Church  Eclec- 
tic, volume  xxxiii,  No.  v,  April,  1903,  pp.  28,  29. 

f  Historical  Coileilions  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Church,  edited  by  William  Stevens 
Pern,',  D.D.,  volume  ii,  Pennsyl'vania.  Printed  for  the  Subscribers,  mdccclxxi,  royal  quarto, 
pp.  xxi,  607. 

:  ixvi  3 


GENERAL  CON\  ENTION 

Upon  his  motion  it  was  ^''Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  grate- 
fully acknow  ledge  the  reception  of  the  deed  of  gift  by  the  descend- 
ants of  Bishop  ^^  hite,  con\eying  to  this  House  the  papers  mentioned 
therein,  and  return  to  Thomas  H.  Montgomery,  Esq.,  and  through 
him  to  all  represented  by  that  gift,  the  thanks  of  this  House  for  the 
important  trust  now  committed  to  their  sole  custody."* 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  Baltimore 
from  \\^ednesday,  October  4,  to  Thursday,  October  26,  1871,  the 
Rt.  Re\ .  Dr.  Odenheimer,  Bishop  of  Ne\\'  Jerse\',  presented  on  Octo- 
ber 26  the  report  of  the  Commission  on  Church  Archives,  as  follows : 

REPORT  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON   ARCHIVES 

The  Commission  on  Church  Archives,  in  presenting  their  first  re- 
port, respectfully  desire  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Church,  in  the  first 
place,  to  the  \  alue  and  extent  of  the  collections  already  under  their 
care ;  and,  secondly,  to  the  importance  of  perfecting  these  collections, 
and  the  duty  resting  upon  the  Church  of  providing  for  its  archi\es 
a  safe  and  appropriate  place  of  deposit. 

The  collections  already  gathered  comprise,  in  the  first  place,  the 
MSS .  obtained  from  the  executors  of  the  late  historiographer,  the  Rev . 
Francis  Lister  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D. ;  or  received,  by  direct  gift, 
from  the  survi\ing  members  of  the  family  of  the  venerable  Bishop 
W^hite  ;  the  transcripts  procured  in  England  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks, 
and  now  in  process  of  publication  in  a  most  sumptuous  series  of  \ol- 
iimes,  under  the  editorship  of  the  present  historiographer ;  and  the  col- 
lection of  Journals  of  General  and  Diocesan  Conventions,  and  other 
important  Church  pamphlets,  begun  by  Bishop  White,  continued 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ha^ks,  and  largely  increased  of  late  by  the  exer- 
tions of  the  temporary  custodian  of  these  MSS.  and  other  papers,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Perry,  Deputy  Registrar  of  the  Convention. 

Besides  these  important  documents,  others  of  scarcely  less  impor- 

*  Journal  of  t/ie  General  Coii'vention,  1871,  p.  274. 

C  ixvii  D 


.VRCHIVES  OF  THE 

tance,  covering  the  whole  period  of  the  Church's  history  since  its 
reorganization  after  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  are  in  the  care  and 
keeping  of  the  Re\ .  Dr.  Hobart,  for  many  years,  and  still  the  faith- 
ful Registrar  of  the  Con^■ention. 

The  perfecting  of  these  MSS.  from  the  rapidly  disappearing  papers 
of  the  families  of  our  Bishops  and  clergy,  the  gathering  together  of 
Journals  needed  to  complete  the  sets  which,  in  more  or  less  perfect- 
ness,  are  already  in  our  care,  and  the  preservation  of  all  the  MS.  or 
printed  matter  illustrati\'e  of  our  American  Church  history,  cannot 
be  delayed  without  danger.  The  Commission  earnestly  call  upon  the 
members  of  the  Church  to  aid  in  this  effort  for  the  increase  of  our  his- 
torical material.  With  a  little  effort  now,  much  may  be  done  to  place 
within  the  reach  of  students  of  our  history  the  means  for  the  fullest 
gratification  of  their  inquiries. 

The  Deputy  Registrar  reports  to  the  Commission  the  gradual  com- 
pletion of  the  sets  of  Journals  and  important  Church  pamphlets  in  his 
hands.  Large  and  \aluable  additions  to  these  files  have  been  made  by 
members  of  the  families  of  the  late  Bishops  Cobb,  of  Alabama,  and 
Burgess,  of  Maine;  the  \enerable  Dr.  Benjamin  Dorr,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, many  years  rector  of  the  historic  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia  ; 
the  Rev.  George  Taft,  D.D.,  long  an  honored  presbyter  of  Rhode 
Island;  and  the  Rev.  D.  L.  B.  Goodwin,  whose  name  and  labors  are 
inseparably  connected  with  the  work  of  Church  extension  in  that  Dio- 
cese. The  Rev.  Samuel  Chase,  D.D.,  of  Illinois,  has  largely  added 
to  the  files  of  Convention  Journals.  The  Re^'.  Dr.  Perry  appends  to 
this  report  a  list  of  Journals  still  needed  to  complete  the  sets  of  ar- 
chives begun  by  the  venerable  first  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
Commission  respectfully  solicit,  from  those  who  possess  these  want- 
ing Journals,  and  any  other  MS.  or  printed  matter  illustrati\e  of  our 
general  or  diocesan  history,  the  contribution  of  such  papers  to  the 
collection  of  archives  under  the  control  of  the  Commission,  to  be  the 
property  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States. 

The  Commission,  feeling  the  importance  of  the  historical  collections 
C   Ixviii   ] 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

now  being  privately  printed  by  the  historiographer,  under  authority 
of  the  House  of  Bishops,  would  commend  this  series  of  volumes  to 
the  support  of  the  wealthy  members  of  our  communion  who  are  in- 
terested in  historical  studies.  They  have  further  directed  the  editor  of 
the  series  to  reserve  for  the  archives  two  sets  of  these  papers,  and  to 
transmit,  as  the  gift  of  the  American  Church,  copies  of  the  same  to 
the  Libraries  of  Lambeth,  Fulham,  and  that  of  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in  grateful  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  permission  accorded  to  the  late  historiographer  to  make 
these  transcripts  of  the  letters  and  papers  preserved  in  these  venerable 
repositories  of  the  literature  of  the  past. 

The  Commission  feel  it  incumbent  upon  them  to  bring  before  the 
Church  the  expression  of  their  conviction  of  the  great  want  of  a  cen- 
tral and  safe  place  of  deposit  for  the  archives  of  the  Church.  Some 
fire-proof  building,  in  a  central  location,  should  be  provided,  where, 
under  the  constant  oversight  of  a  suitable  custodian,  these  records 
should  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  curious,  and  thus  made  avail- 
able in  the  elucidation  of  our  history.  Till  this  is  secured,  the  tenure  bv 
which  we  hold  our  present  possessions  is  but  slight.  Their  loss  would 
be  irreparable.  If  secured  from  the  danger  of  destruction  bv  fire  or  care- 
lessness, their  number  and  value  would  be  largely  increased  by  further 
gifts  of  like  nature.  A  lack  such  as  this  ought  to  be  at  once  supplied. 

In  closing  their  report,  the  Commission  would  commend  to  the  sup- 
port and  patronage  of  the  members  of  our  communion  the  many  efforts 
now  being  made  by  indi\iduals  to  add  to  the  historical  literature  of 
our  Church.  Such  labors  cannot  be  recompensed  pecuniarily.  They 
should,  at  least,  claim  for  those  who  make  them  the  hearty  sympathy 
and  thanks  of  every  Churchman. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

For  the  Commission, 

W.  H.  Odexheimer, 

Chairman. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  Oftoher  25,  1871. 

[  ixix  : 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

The  same  Bishop  offered  this  resolution,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted  and  concurred  in  by  the  House  of  Deputies : 

' '  The  Bishop  of  New  Jersey,  from  the  Joint  Committee  on  Church 
Archives,  presented  their  report,  with  the  follow  ing  resolution : 

' '  Resolved,  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputiesconcurring,That, 
as  every  day  is  adding  to  the  value  and  extent  of  the  manuscripts,  and 
other  collections  of  Church  Documents,  under  the  control  of  the  Com- 
mission to  provide,  at  some  central  place,  a  suitable  place  of  deposit 
for  these  manuscripts  and  papers,  where,  under  proper  restrictions, 
thev  can  be  consulted  by  all  who  would  acquaint  themselves  with  the 
data  of  our  ecclesiastical  history. 

"On  his  motion  the  resolution  as  reported  was  adopted. 
On  motion  of  the  Bishop  of  New  Jersey  it  was  ordered  that  the 
report  and  resolution  be  communicated  to  the  House  of  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies."* 

Bishop  Randall  of  Colorado  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops  a  me- 
morial from  the  Rev.  William  L  Bartlett  of  Massachusetts,  concern- 
ing the  printing  of  the  List  of  Deacons  prepared  by  Bishop  Burgess. 
It  ^\•as  reported  to  the  Committee  on  Memorials,  who  reported  that 
they  saw  no  objection  to  granting  the  prayer  of  the  memorialist.  Mr. 
Bartlett's  work  upon  the  list  in  adding  references,  verifying  dates, 
and  making  an  index  was  very  important.  The  "List  "  appeared  in 
1875  under  the  title:  "List  of  Persons  admitted  to  the  Order  of 
Deacon  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  from  a.d.  1785  to  a.d.  1857,  both  inclusive.  Prepared  by 
the  late  Right  Rev.  George  Burgess,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Maine." f 

In  a  note  Mr.  Bartlett  says:  "There  were  probably  but  very  few 
persons  living  twenty  years  since  who  could  ha\e  compiled  such 
a  'List'  as  that  prepared  b}'  the  late  Bishop  Burgess,  and  which 
forms  the  staple  of  this  book.  It  was  only  by  unwearied  labor,  the 

*  Foraftion  concerning  the  archives,  see  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  1871,  pp.  241,  242, 
375,  389.  For  the  report,  see  pp.  612,  61  3.  Dr.  Perry  appends  a  list  of  Journals  needed,  Journal, 
1871,  pp.  61 3,  614. 
fBoston  :  A.  Williams  &  Co.,  1875,  i2mo,  pp.  4^,  xxv. 

c  ixxn 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

exercise  of  no  little  tact,  and  a  large  expenditure  of  money  on  the 
part  of  the  deceased  Prelate  that  he  drew  from  a  \ariety  of  sources 
the  information  which  he  has  digested  into  a  volume.  Such  univer- 
sal love  and  respect  were  felt  for  him,  that  doubtless  he  succeeded 
in  collecting  material  for  his  work  when  most  others  would  have 
failed.  If  the  compilation  of  a  'List  of  Persons  Ordained  Deacons  in 
the  P.  E.  Church,'  had  been  left  to  the  present  dav,  it  would  be  next 
to  impossiiile  to  find  any  indi\  idual  who  could  successfully  execute 
such  a  work.  The  book  now  issued  is  intended  to  present  an  exact 
reprint  of  the  MS.  which  was  left  by  Bishop  Burgess,  with  certain 
suggestions  for  slight  alterations  in  a  few  places,  and  many  additions. 

"In  the  present  volume  the  name  of  every  person  who  attained  to  the 
honors  and  responsibilities  of  a  Bishop  is  printed  in  small  capitals. 
This  distinction  was  not  made  in  the  manuscript  copy.  Bishop  Bur- 
gess numbered  the  names  up  to  and  including  40.  This  number- 
ing has  now  continued  to  the  end  of  the  List. 

"It  was  evidently  the  intention  of  the  Bishop  to  give  the  date  of  the 
death  of  those  who  had  passed  away,  and  also  the  ages  of  each  at  the 
time  of  his  decease.  Many  of  the  clergy  whose  names  appear  on 
the  List  ha\e  been  called  home  since  the  estimable  compiler  has  left 
these  earthly  scenes.  Items  concerning  some  of  these  are  given  in  this 
printed  volume.  Such  additions  are  distinguished  b}-  square  brackets, 
thus,  [  ] .  This  sign  marks  all  the  additions  made  by  the  under- 
signed, and  it  also  indicates  the  \ery  few  alterations  suggested  by 
him.  Both  amount  ho\\"ever  to  some  four  hundred. 

"The  index  is  the  sole  work  of  the  undersigned.  That  it  adds 
materially  to  the  value  of  the  book,  has  been  stated  in  various  'Book 
Notices,'  and  also  in  private  letters. 

"The  history  of  the  attempt  to  give  this  List  of  Ordinations  to  the 
public,  ought  to  be  stated.  In  1868  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of 
Massachusetts,  after  expressing  its  conviction  of  the  importance  of 
this  work  of  the  late  Bishop  of  Maine,  instructed  the  Church  Regis- 
trar of  that  Diocese  to  petition  the  General  Convention  at  its  next  ses- 

c  ixxi : 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

sion,  to  loan  to  him  Bishop  Burgess's  manuscript  \olume  for  a  length 
of  time  sufficient  to  ha\  e  it  copied.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Con- 
vention of  the  first  named  Diocese,  the  Registrar  reported  that  he  had 
petitioned  as  instructed,  but  that  delegates  from  two  other  Dioceses 
asked  a  like  privilege,  and  that  the  action  of  the  General  Convention 
A\as  a  practical  denial  of  the  petition.  Taught  by  the  experience  of 
interference  of  delegates  in  the  lower  house  of  the  General  Convention 
in  1868,  the  Registrar  quietly  petitioned  the  House  of  Bishops  at  its 
next  meeting,  and  that  body  gave  their  assent  to  the  publication  of 
the  'List.'  And  then  the  labor  of  raising  the  necessary  funds  tegan, 
which  would  probably  have  been  unsuccessful  had  not  four  laymen 
of  this  Diocese  contributed  liberally  to  the  undertaking.  In  fact,  of 
the  number  of  copies  subscribed  for,  nearly  one-half  w  as  by  persons 
living  in  Massachusetts. 

"The  undersigned  mav  perhaps  be  permitted  to  say  in  conclusion, 
that  during  the  progress  of  the  attempt  to  bring  this  volume  before 
the  public  he  has  repeatedlj-  been  reminded  of  the  saying : 
'■Heaven  from  all  creatures  hides  the  book  of  fate.' 

Could  he  ha\'e  foreseen  one  quarter  part  of  the  labor  and  disagree- 
ables which  this  enterprise  has  involved,  he  would  certainly  ne\  er  ha\  e 
entered  upon  it."  * 

The  third  volume,  containing  the  documents  and  papers  relating 
to  Massachusetts,  was  issued  in  the  spring  of  1873.  The  Introduc- 
tion is  dated, ' '  Trinity  Rectory,  Gene\'a,  Nen'  York,  Monday  in  Easter 
Week,  1873  "  (April  14).  The  annotation  is  fuller  than  in  the  other 
volumes,  and  includes  valuable  extracts  from  manuscripts  in  the  Bod- 
leian Library,  Oxford. f 

Dr.  Perry,  in  addition  to  his  work  upon  the  archi\es,  was  preparing 
for  the  Press  a  reprint  of  the  Journals  of  the  General  Coua  ention  from 

*  List,  p.  XV. 

-f-  Historical  ColleSiions  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Church,  edited  by  William  Stevens  Perry, 
D.D.,  volume  iii,  Massachusetts.  Printed  for  the  Subscribers,  mdccclxxiii,  royal  quarto, 
pp.  XXV,  720. 

I  Ixxii  ] 


GENEIL\L  CONVENTION 

1785  to  1835.  He  appended  to  them  an  historical  narrative  of  e^  ents 
concerning  the  organization  of  the  Church  in  the  several  states  and 
the  "Continental  Union."  In  this  narrative  he  drew  largelv  upon  the 
treasures  in  his  care,  particularly  the  manuscripts  of  Bishop  White 
and  Dr.  \\'illiam  Smith.  He  also  reprinted  Bishop  ^^'hite's  famous 
pamphlet  of  1782,  "  The  Case  of  the  Episcopal  Church  Considered ;  " 
Bishop  Seabury's  Communion  Office,  1786 ;  and  "The  Alterations  of 
1789,"  as  contained  in  a  pamphlet  without  date  or  name  of  printer. 
The  volume  has  a  separate  title-page  distinct  from  the  two  contain- 
ing the  Reprint.*  The  narrative  is  practicallv  the  same  as  in  the 
Reprint  of  1861. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  citv  of  New 
York  from  Wednesday,  October  7,  to  Tuesdav,  No\"ember  3,  1874, 
the  final  report  of  the  committee  on  the  re-publication  of  the  earlv 
Journals,  originally  appointed  in  1859,  was  presented,  and  the  com- 
mittee discharged.  In  it,  the  work  of  Dr.  Perrv,  which  was  entirelv 
without  compensation,  was  highlv  commended.  Dr.  Perrv,  then  sec- 
retary of  the  House  of  Deputies,  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  account 
of  the  Church  for  the  Centennial  Exhibition  to  be  held  in  the  citv 
of  Philadelphia  in  1876.  He  also  received  the  formal  thanks  of  the 
House  of  Deputies  for  his  valuable  services. t  The  Archives  Commis- 
sion appears  to  ha\e  presented  no  report. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  citv  of  Bos- 
ton from  Wednesday,  October  3,  to  Thursday,  October  25,  1877,  the 

*  Journals  of  the  General  Contentions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States, 
published  by  authority  of  the  General  Convention,  edited  by  William  Stevens  Perry,  D.D., 
volume  iii,  Historical  Notes  anJ  Documents.  Claremont,  N.H.:  The  Claremont  Manufaifturing 
Company,  187+,  8vo,  pp.  Iv,  528.  Sub-title:  "  Historical  Notes  and  Documents  illustrating  the 
Organization  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  Statesof  America,  by  William 
Stevens  Perr)-,  D.D.,  Historiographer  of  the  American  Church.  Claremont,  N.H.;  The  Clare- 
mont Manufacturing  Company,  1S74."  For  action  upon  the  re-publication  of  the  early  3'""''- 
«a//,  see  j'oar/;^/,  1871,  pp.  194,  195,  209,  354,  355,  359.  The  members  of  the  joint  commit- 
tee were  the  Bishops  of  New  York  (Dr.  Potter);  Connecticut  (Dr.  Williams)  ;  New  Jersey 
(Dr.  Odenheimer)  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Cooper  Mead ;  M.  A.  de  Wolfe  Howe  ;  William 
Stevens  Perr)-;  and  Messrs.  Samuel  B.  Ruggles,  Henr)'  P.  Baldwin,  and  Enoch  R.  Mudge. 
■\  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  1874,  pp.  169,  173,  174,  217,  265,  288,  337,  338,  340. 

C  Ixxiii  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

Canon  concerning  the  Registrar  was  amended  so  as  to  require  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Registrar  or  his  deputy  at  every  consecration  of  a  Bishop.  A 
letter  of  consecration,  pre\iousiy  prepared,  was  to  be  signed  and  sealed 
in  his  presence  by  the  consecrators.  The  entry  of  each  consecration  in 
the  "Book  of  Consecrations"  was  to  be  attested  by  a  notary  public* 

The  elevation  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Perry  on  September  10,  1876,  to  the 
Episcopate,  in  succession  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Henr\'  Washington 
Lee  of  Iowa,  delayed  his  work  upon  the  archives.  In  the  meantime, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Morgan  Hills,  rector  of  St.  Mary's  Church, 
Burlington,  had  thoroughly  examined  the  material  in  the  archives 
bearing  upon  the  Church  in  New  Jersey,  and  particularly  that  relat- 
ing to  the  origin  and  progress  of  St.  Marv's  Church  and  its  first 
rector,  the  Rev.  John  Talbot.  He  embodied  the  results  of  his  research 
in  a  scholarly  history  of  the  parish. f 

In  the  midst  of  his  new  duties  and  cares,  the  Bishop  of  Iowa  found 
time  to  prepare  two  more  \olumes  for  the  press,  containing  the  papers 
concerning  Maryland  and  Delaware.  While  bound  up  together,  thev 
have  separate  title-pages,  introductions,  and  pagination,  as  w  ell  as  in- 
dices. |  In  the  Introduction  to  the  Maryland  volume  he  explains  the 
delay  by  ' '  the  pressure  of  new  duties  incident  to  a  change  of  life  and 
residence."  He  adds  that  "the  partial  destruction  by  fire  of  both  the 
MSS.  and  the  printed  sheets,  together  with  the  copies  of  the  pre- 
vious volumes  still  in  hand,  have  proved  a  serious  loss  to  the  Editor, 
as  well  as  a  reason  for  further  delay."  He  excuses  the  meagrenessof 
his  annotations,  saying  there  was  less  need  of  them  owing  to  the  services 

*  Journal  of  t/ie  General  Connjention,  liTJ,  pp.  119,  151,  205,271,  285;  also  Digest  of  Canons, 
1877,  pp.  129,  130,  appended  to  Journal. 

t  History  of  the  Church  in  Burlington,  Neiv  Jersey,  comprising  the  fafls  and  incidents  of  nearly 
two  hundred  years,  from  original  contemporaneous  sources,  by  the  Rev.  George  Morgan  Hills, 
D.D.,re£torof  St.  Mary's  Parish,  and  dean  of  the  Convocation  of  Burlington.  Trenton,  New  Jer- 
sey ;  William  S.  Sharp,  Printer,  1876,  8vo,  pp.  739. 

X  Historical  Collegians  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Church,  edited  by  William  Stevens  Perry, 
D.D.,  volume  iv,  Marylami.  Printed  for  the  Subscribers,  mdccclxxviii,  royal  quarto,  pp.  xii, 
370.  Historical  ColkSions  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Church,  edited  by  William  Stevens 
Perry,  D.D.,  volume  v,  Delaivare.  Printed  for  the  Subscribers,  mdccclxxviii,  royal  quarto, 
pp.  vii,  151. 

[  Ixxiv  '] 


GENERAL  CON\'ENTION 

of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ethan  Allen,  "whose  life  long  labors  have  secured 
for  this  Diocese  abundant  material  both  in  MSS.,  and  in  print,  for 
the  student  of  its  history,  material  which  year  by  }ear  \\ ill  be  more 
highly  valued. ' '  To  him ' '  this  volume  of  Maryland  Papers  is  inscribed 
by  his  friend  and  brother  The  Editor."  The  Introduction  is  dated, 
"Bishop's  House,  Davenport,  Iowa,  St.  Mark's  Day,  1878." 

The  Introduction  to  the  Delaware  papers  is  brief,  and  notes  that 
they  ' '  throw  quite  as  much  light  upon  the  condition  of  the  Church 
in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  as  upon  the  Church  in  the  province 
under  which  they  have  been  grouped  by  the  late  Historiographer  of 
the  American  Church."  It  is  dated,  "Bishop's  House,  Davenport, 
Iowa,  Feast  of  SS.  Philip  and  James,  1878." 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  citv  of 
New  York  from  \\'ednesday,  October  6,  to  Wednesday,  October 
27,  1880,  the  vacancy  on  the  Archives  Commission  by  the  death 
of  the  Bishop  of  Northern  New  Jersey,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Odenhei- 
mer,  August  14,  1879,  was  filled  bv  the  nomination  bv  the  House 
of  Bishops,  and  confirmation  bv  the  House  of  Deputies,  of  the  Bishop 
of  Connecticut,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  ^^'illiams.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hobart 
asked  for  a  conference  concerning  the  better  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  Registrar.  As  the  result,  the  Canon  concerning  the  Registrar  was 
further  amended,  providing  for  duplicate  copies  of  the  letters  of  con- 
secration of  each  Bishop,  also  allowing  the  documents  and  papers  in 
his  possession  to  be  kept  in  fire-proof  boxes,  or  in  some  safe  and  con- 
venient place  of  deposit.  The  Registrar  in  his  report  spoke  of  the  in- 
convenience he  experienced,  as  no  place  had  been  provided.  At  that 
time  he  was  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  the  rector  of  Grace  Church 
for  the  use  of  a  room  A\hich  was  needed  for  other  purposes.  The 
Archives  Commission  in  a  special  report  urged  the  necessity  of  such 
a  permanent  place  of  deposit  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Its  sugges- 
tions were  appro\ed  by  the  Convention.* 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Con'vention,  1880,  pp.  136,  148,  149,  189,  190,  192,  193,  250,  275, 
277,  279,  280,  282,  324,  325,  326.  For  the  report  of  the  Registrar,  see  Appendix  xviii,  p.  502. 

[  ixxv  ;] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  from  Wednesday,  October  3,  to  Friday,  October  26, 
1883,  no  action  concerning  the  archives  was  proposed  or  any  report 
presented  from  the  commission.  The  Registrar  requested  leave  to 
change  the  "heading,"  as  he  styles  it,  of  the  Letters  of  Consecration 
from  ' '  In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen, ' '  to  "  In  the  Name  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  Amen,"  which  was  granted.* 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
Chicago  from  Wednesday,  October  6,  to  Thursday,  October  28, 
1886,  the  offer  made  by  the  trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Sem- 
inary of  a  room  for  the  use  of  the  secretaries  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion, and  a  place  of  deposit  for  the  archives  in  the  care  of  the  Regis- 
trar, was  accepted  with  thanks. f  The  Commission  on  Archives  made 
no  report.  The  commission  is  omitted  from  the  list  of  "Committees 
appointed  to  report  to  the  next  General  Convention  as  permanent 
Commissions."  No  action  was  taken  in  either  House  leading  to  its 
abolition,  so  far  as  the  printed  Journal  shows. 

John  Henry  Hobart,  who  since  1853  had  been  the  Registrar,  de- 
parted this  life  at  Fishkill,  New  York,  on  August  31,  1889.  He  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  October  1,  1817.  He  was  well  prepared  for 
college  in  good  private  schools,  and  entered  Columbia  College  at  the 
age  of  fifteen.  He  was  graduated  with  honour  in  1836.  After  spend- 
ing two  years  in  special  study,  he  proceeded  to  the  General  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  1838.  Here  he  formed  an  intimate  friendship  with 
the  poet-bishop.  Dr.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe. 

In  his  Senior  year  several  classmates,  notably  James  Lloyd  Breck 
and  William  Adams,  discussed  with  him  an  associate  mission  in  the 
wilds  of  Wisconsin.  The  members  were  to  be  content  with  food, 
raiment,  and  shelter.  A  plan  was  formulated,  and  the  approval  of  their 
Bishops  sought.  On  June  27,  1841,  Mr.  Hobart  was  made  Deacon 

'"''Journal  cf  the  General  Con-vcntion,  1883,  pp.  loi,  115.  For  the  report  of  the  Registrar  see 
p.  609,  Appendix  xin. 

\  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  1886,  pp.  10,  68,  78,  235,  236.  The  report  of  the  Regis- 
trar is  on  page  860,  Appendix  xxiv. 

C  Ixxvi  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

by  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  Dr.  Benjamin  T.  Onderdonk.  Soon  after, 
with  his  classmates,  James  Lloyd  Breck  and  William  Adams,  he  went 
to  their  chosen  mission  field,  Prairieville,  Wisconsin.  The  story  of 
Nashotah  and  the  biu'den  of  teaching,  preaching,  administering  the 
sacraments,  and  other  duties  borne  by  these  young  men,  is  one  that 
has  often  been  told. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Hobart  did  his  full  share  of  the  work.  He  then 
felt  obliged  to  return  East,  and  accepted  in  1844  the  rectorship  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Redhook,  New  York.  In  the  following  year  he 
became  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Geneva,  New  York.  In  1847  he 
was  made  a  member  of  the  clerical  stafi'of  Trinity  Church,  New  York 
City.  Until  1855,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  by  the  rector. 

He  was  made  a  full  assistant  minister  and  assigned  to  Trinity  Chapel, 
March  26,  1855.  In  September,  1863,  he  resigned  to  take  the  rector- 
ship of  Grace  Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland.  In  1868  his  impaired 
health  compelled  him  to  give  up  the  care  of  a  large  parish.  He  re- 
turned to  the  familv  home  at  Short  Hills,  New  Jersey,  and  accepted 
the  charge  of  Calvary  Church,  Summit,  which  was  near  his  home. 
In  1871  he  gave  up  that  position.  In  1872  he  accompanied  Bishop 
Whittingham,  as  chaplain,  to  the  important  Old  Catholic  Congress 
at  Cologne.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Fishkill,  New  York,  and  \\as 
made  rector  of  Trinity  Church.  Here  he  spent  the  last  ten  years  of 
his  life  in  useful  and  fruitful  work.  In  1884  he  was  the  Convention 
preacher.  His  discourse  was  a  summary  of  the  steps  leading  to  the 
organization  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York  after  the  Revolution. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
New  York  from  Wednesday,  October  2,  to  Thursday,  October  24, 
1889,  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Henry  Hobart  was  announced 
in  the  House  of  Bishops.  Upon  the  motion  of  the  Bishop  of  Iowa,  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Perry,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  LIa  ingston  Reese  of  Albany, 
New  York,  was  nominated  as  Registrar,  and  duly  confirmed  by  the 
House  of  Deputies.* 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  1889,  pp.  26,  32,  285. 

C  Ixxvii  ] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

No  report  \vas  received  from  the  Commission  on  Arcliives,  nor  does 
the  commission  appear  in  the  list  prefixed  to  the  Journal  of  Com- 
mittees and  Commissions.  No  report  was  presented  from  the  late 
Registrar. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore  from  Wednesday,  Octobers,  toTuesday,  October25, 1892, 
the  Bishop  of  Iowa  offered  on  Monday,  October  10,  a  preamble  and 
resolutions  concerning  the  value  of  the  missionary  archives  of  the 
Church,  thanking  the  dean  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  for 
the  use  of  a  room,  and  requesting  the  authorities  of  the  Domestic 
and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  to  provide  in  the  new  Church  Mis- 
sions House,  then  building,  a  room  or  rooms  \\  ith  a  fire-proof  safe, 
in  which  "the  Archives  of  the  American  Church,  now  and  here- 
after to  be  in  the  keeping  of  the  Registrar,"  could  be  kept  and  con- 
sulted in  connection  \\  ith  the  missionary  archives.  Provision  was  to 
be  made  by  the  authorities  of  the  society  ' '  for  the  care  and  preser- 
vation of  the  said  Archives  under  the  exclusive  direction  and  control 
of  the  Registrar  and  such  other  officers  of  the  Convention  as  may  have 
by  the  vote  of  the  Convention,  care  and  charge  of  these  papers."  * 

The  preamble  and  resolutions  were  referred  to  a  special  committee, 
the  Bishop  of  Iowa,  the  Registrar,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Reese,  and  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  House  of  Bishops,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tatlock.  The  committee 
reported  "that  they  have  fully  consulted  with  such  authorities  of  the 
Church  Missions  House  as  were  accessible,  and  w  ith  their  approval 
recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution  : 

''''Resolved,  That  the  preamble  and  resolutions  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee be  adopted."  The  report  was  accepted  and  the  resolution 
adopted. f  The  House  of  Deputies  at  once  concurred. 

On  Friday,  October  21,  the  Bishop  of  Io\va  offered  this  resolution, 
which  was  adopted : 

''''Resolved,  the  House  of  Deputies  concurring,  that  a  Commission 
on  Archives  be  created,  consisting  of  three  Bishops,  three  Priests,  and 

*  Journal  of  t/ie  General  Con'vention,  1S92,  p.  3;.  f  ll>iJ.,  p.  55. 

[^  Ixxviii  '2 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

three  Laymen,  to  co-operate  with  the  Registrar  of  the  Convention, 
in  securing,  arranging,  and  caring  for  all  documents,  manuscript  or 
in  print,  illustrating  the  history  of  the  American  Church,  which  are 
already  or  may  hereafter  become  the  property  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion." The  chairman  of  the  House,  the  Rt.  Rew  Dr.  Neely  of  Maine, 
appointed  as  members  from  the  House  of  Bishops,  the  Bishop  of  Al- 
bany, the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Doane,  the  Bishop  of  low  a,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
Perry,  and  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Potter.* 

The  House  of  Deputies  concurred  in  the  action  of  the  House  of  Bish- 
ops, and  the  president,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan  Dix,  appointed  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Commission  on  Archives,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ed^vin  Harwood 
of  Connecticut,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alfred  B.  Baker  of  New  Jersey,  and  the 
Rev.  Frederick  Gibson  of  Maryland  ;  Mr.  Henry  Hayes  of  Newark, 
Mr.  Asa  Bird  Gardiner  of  Long  Island,  and  Mr.  James  Grant  Wilson 
of  New  York.f 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of  Min- 
neapolis from  Wednesday,  October  2,  to  Tuesday,  October  22,  1895, 
the  vacancies  in  the  commission  by  the  resignations  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Frederick  Gibson  of  Baltimore  and  Mr.  Henry  Hayes  of  Newark 
were  filled  bv  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hart  of  Hartford, 
and  Mr.  J.  Pierpont  Morgan  of  New  York.  The  report  of  the  com- 
mission was  presented  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Perry  of  Iowa.  J 

It  w  as  an  historical  summary  of  what  had  been  done  by  Bishop 
White,  Dr.  Hawks,  the  General  Convention,  and  himself  as  histo- 
riographer, for  the  preservation  of  manuscript  and  printed  material 
for  the  history  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States.  He  details  the 
measures  taken  to  obtain  from  the  family  of  Dr.  Hawks  the  books 
and  manuscripts  which  \\  ere  the  property  of  the  Church,  and  rejoices 
in  the  convenient  and  safe  depositary  at  the  Church  Missions  House 
for  the  preservation  of  the  priceless  treasures. § 

*  Journal  of  tie  General  Convention,  1892,  pp.  iii,  112.  f  Ibid,,  p.  387. 

X  Journal  of  tie  General  Con-vention,  1895,  pp.  56,  78,  146,  238,  252. 
^Ibid.,  Appendix  XVii,  pp.  705-710. 

i^  Ixxix  ^ 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

On  May  13,  1898,  William  Stevens  Perry,  the  Bishop  of  Iowa,  died 
in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  He  \\"as  a  native  of  Providence, 
Rhode  Island,  and  a  member  of  a  well-known  family.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  Harvard  College  in  1854.  He  was  made  deacon  by  Bishop 
Eastburn  of  Massachusetts  in  Grace  Church,  Newton,  Massachu- 
setts, on  March  29,  1857,  and  became  assistant  minister  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Boston.  He  was  ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Eastburn  in  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Boston,  on  April  7,  1858.  In  November,  1858,  he  be- 
came rector  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  Nashua,  New  Hampshire.  Early 
in  his  ministry  he  developed  an  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Ameri- 
can Church.  His  first  historical  publication  was  in  1859,  a  sketch 
of  the  Church  Missionary  Association  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  gift  to  him  of  the  correspondence  and  the  papers  of 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Parker,  Bishop  of  Massachusetts,  which  he  rescued 
from  proposed  destruction,  gave  him  most  valuable  material  for  the 
history  of  the  Church  in  New  England,  of  which  he  made  good  use. 
He  was  the  collaborator  with  Dr.  Hawks  in  preparing  the  historical 
notes  and  documents  for  a  reprint  of  the  early  Journals,  of  which  onlj' 
one  volume  was  published  in  Philadelphia,  in  1861.  In  May,  1861, 
he  accepted  the  rectorship  of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  where  he  re- 
mained until  November,  1863.  He  edited  "  The  Church  Monthly  "  in 
Boston  in  1864,  and  ^^■as  from  November,  1864,  to  April,  1869,  rector 
of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Litchfield,  Connecticut.  In  May,  1869, 
he  was  elected  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Geneva,  New  York,  in  suc- 
cession to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bissell,  who  had  been  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Vermont.  He  was  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New 
York,  and  in  those  of  Hobart  College,  in  \vhich  he  was  professor  of 
history  from  1871  to  1873.  In  April,  1876,  he  was  elected  president. 
He  retained  this  office,  in  connection  with  his  parish,  until  Septem- 
ber, 1876.  In  Ma}^  1876,  he  was  elected  Bishop  of  Iowa,  and  was 
consecrated  in  Trinity  Church,  Gene\a,  New  York,  on  September  10, 
1876,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Stevens,  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  presid- 
ing, assisted  by  the  Bishops  of  \\^estern  New  York,  Dr.  Coxe ;  Pitts- 
[  Ixxx  ] 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

burgh,  Dr.  Kerfoot ;  \'ermont,  Dr.  Bissell ;  and  the  Metropolitan  of 
Canada,  Dr.  Oxenden  of  Montreal,  who  was  the  preacher. 

As  a  Bishop,  Dr.  Perry  strengthened  diocesan  institutions,  notablv 
Griswold  College,  at  Davenport,  fostered  the  cathedral  foundation, 
and  increased  the  diocesan  funds.  He  was  an  untiring  worker  in  the 
large  territory  in  which  the  Church  needed  strengthening  and  expan- 
sion. 

His  historical  work  was  continued,  and  in  addition  to  the  "Collec- 
tions," he  prepared  a  "History"  which  Mill  always  be  standard,  in 
which  are  many  monographs  by  historical  scholars  upon  institutions, 
early  churches,  and  incidents.* 

While  using  some  of  the  rich  material  under  his  control  as  histo- 
riographer, he  relied  largely  upon  printed  journals,  periodicals,  books, 
sketches,  and  articles,  in  the  compilation  of  his  narrative.  He  did 
a  large  and  important  work  as  a  Church  historian,  and  will  always  be 
honoured  for  it. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
Washington  from  W^ednesday,  October  5,  to  Tuesday,  October  25, 
1898,  the  death  of  Bishop  Perry  was  announced  in  the  House  of 
Bishops. t 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Hart  was  elected  historiographer  and  duly  con- 
firmed by  the  House  of  Deputies. | 

The  Bishop  of  Delaware,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Coleman,  in  place  of 
Bishop  Perry,  and  the  Venerable  Dr.  Charles  C.  Tiffany,  Archdea- 
con of  New  York,  in  place  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Harwood,  who  had  re- 
signed, were  appointed  as  members  of  the  commission. § 

The  report  mentions  the  purchase,  through  the  liberality  of  one  of 

*Tfie  History  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  1587-1S83,  by  William  Stevens  Perry,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Iowa.  Volume  i,  The  Planting  and  Growth  of  the  American  Colonial  Church, 
1587-1783.  Volume  \\,The  Organization  and  Progress  of  the  American  Church,  1783-1883,  pro- 
jefted  by  Clarence  F.  Jewett.  Boston  :  James  R.  Osgood  and  Company,  1885,  vol.  i,  pp.  xx, 
665;  vol.  ii,  pp.  xiii,  696. 
\  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  1898,  p.  8. 
Xlhid.,  pp.  83,  298. 
(jibid.,  p.  8. 

C  Ixxxi  ] 


ARCHI\  ES  OF  THE 

its  members,  Mr.  J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  of  viiluahle  documents  from 
the  executors  of  the  estate  of  Bishop  Perry,  including  a  portion  of  the 
Bishop  Parker  correspondence,  among  M'hich  were  the  letters  of  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Fogg  of  Pomfret,  Connecticut,  concerning  the  election  of 
Dr.  Seaburv,  correspondence  of  Bishop  Hopkins,  and  other  inter- 
vening documents.* 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Livingston  Reese  died  on  January  31,  1899,  in 
the  sixty -first  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  faithful  parish  priest,  as  his 
ministry  of  twenty-seven  j'ears  in  the  important  cure  of  St.  Paul's 
Chtirch,  Albanj',  New  York,  testifies ;  he  was  an  earnest  advocate  of 
missions,  and  for  many  years  was  an  efficient  member  of  the  General 
Board  of  Missions  ;  he  was  prominent  in  the  Councils  of  the  Church, 
and  a  firm  friend  to  all  who  knew  him. 

The  presiding  Bishop,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Williams,  nominated,  and 
the  president  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dix,  appointed, 
as  acting  Registrar,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hart.  In  his  first  report, 
made  to  the  General  Convention  of  1901 ,  Dr.  Hart  says  of  Dr.  Reese : 

"The  carefulness  and  dignity  with  which  he  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  office  are  well  known  to  the  Church  ;  but  testimony  may  be  borne 
here  to  the  value  of  his  work  in  collecting  and  preserving  the  Church's 
Archi\es,  in  providing  (it  may  now  be  told,  that  it  was  at  his  own 
expense)  Letters  of  Consecration  for  newly  elected  Bishops,  and  in 
securing  the  authentication  of  the  records  in  the  book  of  Registry. 
His  services  should  be  gratefully  acknowledged,  and  long  remem- 
bered."! 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of  San 
Francisco  from  Wednesdav,  October  2,  to  Thursday,  October  17, 
1901,  the  only  reference  to  the  Commission  on  Archives  is  the  recep- 
tion of  its  report,  and  a  resolution  continuing  "until  the  next  General 
Convention,"  all  joint  committees  and  joint  commissions.  J 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 

*For  details  see  'Journal  of  the  General  Coniiention,  1898,  Appendix  viii,  p.  530. 

\  Journal  oj  the  General  Con-vention,  1901,  p.  455.  X  IbiJ.,  pp.  46,  152,  314,  316. 

[|  Ixxxii  J 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Boston  from  Wednesda}-,  October  5,  to  Tuesday,  October  25,  1904, 
the  Bishop  of  Albany  presented  this  report : 

"The  Commission  on  Archives  having  held  no  meeting,  the  Chair- 
man reports  that  there  are  no  special  matters  to  be  presented  to  the 
Convention ;  but  attention  is  called  to  the  report  of  the  Acting  Regis- 
trar, which  contains  in  its  closing  pages  a  statement  of  recent  addi- 
tions which  have  been  made  to  the  Archives."  * 

By  a  concurrent  vote  of  both  Houses  it  was  determined  that  all  joint 
committees  and  commissions  be  continued  until  the  next  General 
Convention.f 

In  the  reports  of  the  acting  Registrar  it  is  stated  that  the  archives 
had  been  enriched  bv  a  list  of  ministers  of  other  religious  bodies  con- 
forming to  the  Church  between  1883  and  1896,  with  biographical 
notes  by  the  Re^-.  W.  L.  Himes  of  New  Hampshire;  a  collection  of 
historical  pamphlets  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  F.  Slafter  of  Boston;  and 
that  with  the  exception  of  the  sermons  at  the  consecrations  of  Bish- 
ops Gilbert,  Anson  R.  Graves,  Barker,  and  Newton,  the  collection  of 
sermons  preached  at  the  consecration  of  Bishops  since  1887  had  been 
completed.  J 

During  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention  held  in  the  city  of 
Richmond  from  Wednesday,  October  2,  to  Saturday,  October  19, 
1907,  it  was  determined  to  continue  the  commission.  The  vacancy 
made  by  the  death  of  the  Venerable  Dr.  Tiftany  was  filled  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Y.  Bliss  of  \^ermont. 

The  commission,  recognizing  the  increasing  interest  taken  in  the 
early  history  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States  and  the  importance 
of  placing  the  documents  belonging  to  the  General  Convention  in  such 
a  shape  that  they  may  be  readily  accessible  to  all  students,  unani- 
mously adopted  in  February,  1910,  a  resolution  appointing  Mr.  J. 
Pierpont  Morgan  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hart  a  sub-committee,  with  po^\er 
to  arrange  for  the  publication  of  such  of  the  archives  as  in  their  judge- 

*  "Jaurnalof  the  General  Con'vention,  1904.,  pp.  170,  294,  367,  370.  \Ibid. 

Xlbid.,  Appendix  vi,  pp.  461-4.63. 

f  Ixxxiii  '] 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

ment  they  may  deem  fit.  This  sub-committee  arranged  with  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Arthur  Lowndes  to  edit  the  archives,  commencing  with  the  Ho- 
bart  papers.  This  was  rendered  possible  through  the  interest  taken 
in  the  matter  by  Mr.  Morgan,  who  agreed  to  bear  the  cost  of  the 
volumes  now  published. 

The  Commission  on  Archives  presented  to  the  General  Convention 
of  1910,  held  at  Cincinnati  October  5  to  October  19,  this  report:* 

REPORT  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON   ARCHIVES 

To  the  General  Convention  to  be  holden  on  the  first  JVednesday  of  Octo- 
ber in  the  year  of  our  LA)rd,  1910: 

The  Commission  on  Archives  refers  to  the  report  of  the  Acting  Regis- 
trar for  a  statement  of  additions  made  to  the  Archives  of  the  General 
Convention  during  the  past  three  years. 
And  the  Commission  has  pleasure  in  reporting  that,  an  offer  having 
been  made  to  provide  for  the  editing  and  publication  of  the  manu- 
script collections  in  the  Archives  without  expense  to  the  Convention, 
two  members  of  the  Commission,  Dr.  Morgan  and  Dr.  Hart,  were 
appointed  in  the  early  part  of  this  year  a  sub-committee  with  power 
to  undertake  and  execute  this  work.  A  beginning  has  been  made  w  ith 
the  Hobart  papers,  and  the  material  for  three  volumes,  carefully  edited, 
is  now  ready  for  the  printer. 

On  behalf  of  the  Commission, 

W^ILLIAJI  CrOSWELL  DoANE, 

J.  PiERPONT  Morgan, 

Samuel  Hart."]" 

The  vacancies  on  the  commission  by  the  deaths  of  Bishop  Potter  and 
Bishop  Coleman  were  filled  by  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Law  rence, 
Bishop  of  Massachusetts,  and  Dr.  Greer,  Bishop  of  New  York.  J 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Hart,  who  since  1899  has  been  Acting  Registrar,  a\  as 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Con-vention,  1910,  pp.  45,  270.  f  Ibitl.,  p.  487. 

X  Journal,  p.  vi. 

[^  Ixxxiv  J 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

on  October  21,  1910,  elected  Registrar.*  For  permanent  record  his  re- 
ports as  Acting  Registrar  and  Custodian  of  the  Standard  Prayer 
Book  are  here  gi\  en  : 

REPORT  OF  THE  ACTING  REGISTRAR 

To  the  General  Convention  to  be  holden  on  thejirst  JFednesday  of  Octo- 
ber in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1910: 

The  Acting  Registrar  of  the  General  Convention  begs  leave  to  present 
his  report. 

No  election  of  a  Registrar  having  been  made  at  the  last  General 
Convention  in  the  manner  required  by  Canon,  I  have  continued,  as 
for  the  past  ten  years,  to  discharge  the  necessary  duties  of  the  office 
as  Acting  Registrar. 

Since  the  last  General  Convention  ten  Bishops  have  been  conse- 
crated. In  each  case  Letters  of  Consecration  have  been  prepared  and 
signed  in  duplicate  as  required  by  Canon :  one  copy  on  parchment 
has  been  given  to  the  newly  consecrated  Bishop,  and  one  on  parch- 
ment paper  has  been  filed  in  the  Registrar's  office,  and  transcripts  of 
the  same  accompany  this  report.  Records  of  all  the  consecrations  have 
been  made  in  the  Registry  book,  and  are  ready  for  the  signatures  of 
the  Bishops  who  laid  on  hands. 

I  have  appointed  Deputy  Registrars  for  the  several  consecrations, 
on  nominations  by  the  Bishops  elect,  as  follows : 

The  Rev.  James  Edward  Freeman,  to  be  Deputy  Registrar  at  the 
consecration  of  the  Bishop  of  Eastern  Oregon  ;  the  Rev.  William  Stro- 
ther  Jones,  D.D.,  at  the  consecration  of  Bishop  Knight  of  Western 
Colorado;  the  Rev.  Robert  Clayton  Hindley,  Ph.D.,  at  the  consecra- 
tion of  the  Bishop  of  Nevada ;  the  Rev.  George  Sherwood  Whitney, 
at  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop  of  Georgia  ;  the  Rev.  Charles  Harris 
Hayes,  D.D.,  at  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop  of  Delaware ;  the  Re\'. 
Thomas  Jones  Packard,  D.D.,  at  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop  of 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Con'vention,  1910,  pp.  184,  191,  and  408. 

[^  Ixxxv  3 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

Washington ;  the  Rev.  Hubert  Wetmore  Wells,  at  the  consecration  of 
the  Bishop  of  Wyoming ;  the  Rev.  Charles  Edw  in  Perkins,  at  the  con- 
secration of  Bishop  Brewster  of  Western  Colorado;  the  Rev.  Da\id 
Prescott  Allison,  at  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop  Coadjutor  of  Mary- 
land ;  and  the  Rev.  William  Jackson  Morton,  at  the  consecration  of 
the  Bishop  Coadjutor  of  Virginia. 

Journals  for  the  current  years,  and  in  several  cases  for  earlier  years, 
have  been  received  from  the  Secretaries  of  the  Dioceses  and  Districts, 
either  directly  or  through  the  Secretary  of  the  House  of  Deputies, 
who  has  continued  his  kind  assistance  in  the  matter,  as  also  in  ar- 
ranging and  caring  for  the  volumes  and  documents  in  the  Registrar's 
office.  A  few  more  Journals  have  been  purchased,  including  those  of 
North  Carolina  for  1851-56,  1859,  and  1876,  and  those  of  Maryland 
for  1819, 1820,  and  1822 ;  a  copy  of  the  sheets  of  the  Bioren  reprint  of 
the  Journals  of  General  Convention  to  1814,  untrimmed  and  in  cover, 
with  the  autograph  of  Bishop  Croes,  has  also  been  secured.  A  list  of 
Journals  needed  to  complete  the  sets  in  the  Archives  is  submitted  as 
an  appendix  to  this  report. 

Four  pamphlets  have  also  been  purchased  bearing  on  the  contro\ersy 
as  to  the  consecration  of  Bishop  H.  U.  Onderdonk  (1827). 

Mr.  Bird  W.  Spencer,  of  Passaic,  N.  J. ,  has  sent  to  the  Archives  an 
oaken  box  left  in  a  vault  by  his  father,  the  late  J.  A.  Spencer,  D.D., 
for  many  years  Custodian  of  the  Standard  Bible.  It  contains  a  hand- 
somely bound  copy  of  the  literatim  reprint  of  the  English  Bible  of  1611, 
published  in  1833,  with  a  fe^v  letters  and  ne^^"spaper  cuttings  relat- 
ing to  it.  The  book  bears  the  inscription :  ' '  To  the  House  of  Bishops 
from  James  Murdock  Smith." 

Through  the  kindness  of  J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  LL.D.,  two  bound 
volumes  of  valuable  pamphlets  have  been  added  to  the  Archives.  One 
includes  the  Journals  of  South  Carolina  for  1825,  1827,  1828,  1829, 
and  1830 ;  the  Journal  of  Connecdcut  for  1829  ;  that  of  General  Con- 
vention for  the  same  }'ear ;  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Psalms  in 
Metre,  1830;  with  other  publications.  The  other  includes  the  Canons 
[^  Ixxxvi  J 


GENER.\L  CONVENTION 

of  the  General  Convention  to  1804,  and  those  of  1808  ;  the  General 
Convention  Journals  of  1808,  1811,  and  1817;  Journalsof  New  York, 
1806  and  1815;  of  Pennsylvania,  1814-17;  of  Connecticut,  1813-16; 
General  Convention  Sermons,  1808,  1811,  1814  (two) ;  Pastoral  Let- 
ters, 1808,  1811 ;  and  Office  of  Institution,  1808.  These  two  volumes 
were  once  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Andrew  Fowler,  and  their  con- 
tents were  evidently  collected  by  him. 

Mr.  Morgan  has  also  presented  a  set  of  the  Journals  of  New  York  to 
the  year  of  1870,  bound  in  seventeen  volumes,  and  a  set  of  the  Jour- 
nals of  Western  New  York  to  the  year  1900,  bound  in  t\\  enty  volumes, 
with  a  collection  of  Journals  of  other  Dioceses,  chiefly  those  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  of  various  dates ;  also,  twelve  early  General  Convention 
Journals,  a  set  of  fi\e  Journals  of  the  General  Council  of  the  Church 
in  the  Confederate  States,  ^ith  a  copy  of  the  Canons  and  a  Pastoral 
Letter,  the  Documentary  History  of  Connecticut  in  sheets,  and  reports 
of  the  Church  Congresses  in  1882  and  1888. 

Applications  have  been  made  from  time  to  time  for  permission  to 
consult  certain  historical  manuscripts  in  the  Archives  of  the  General 
Convention,  either  that  they  might  be  included  in  indexes  of  like  doc- 
uments or  that  they  might  serve  some  direct  purpose  of  investigation 
and  compilation.  Ha\ing  taken  advice,  I  have  given  permission  for 
such  use  in  several  cases  in  which  it  seemed  that  it  would  be  for  the 
interest  of  full  and  correct  statement  in  matters  relating  to  the  history 
of  this  Church.  Reference  may  be  made  to  the  report  of  the  Commis- 
sion on  Archives  for  a  note  as  to  the  beginning  of  a  publication  of  our 
manuscript  collections. 

The  expenses  of  this  office  for  the  past  three  years  in  connection  with 
the  consecration  of  Bishops  have  been  :  for  engrossing  Letters  of  Con- 
secration, nine  on  parchment  and  ten  duplicates  on  paper,  $56.00; 
for  expenses  in  forwarding  the  documents,  $5.30 ;  for  postage,  $1 .00 ; 
total,  $62.30.  Other  expenses  have  been  :  for  old  Journals  purchased, 
$9.95  ;  for  other  pamphlets,  $12.50  ;  for  express  and  postage,  $2.50 ; 
total,  $24.95. 

Q  Ixxxvii  '2 


ARCHIVES  OF  THE 

It  will  be  necessary  to  ask  this  year  for  a  special  appropriation  of 

$150.00  for  the  printing  of  forms  of  Letters  for  the  Consecration  of 

Bishops.  Fifty  copies  on  parchment  and  fifty  on  heavy  paper  were 

printed  in  1901,  and  there  are  but  a  few  left. 

All  uhich  is  respectfully  submitted, 

Samuel  Hart, 

Acting  Registrar* 
Oftober  I,  1 910. 

REPORT  OF  THE  CUSTODIAN 
OF  THE  STANDARD   BOOK  OF  COMMON   PRAYER 

To  the  General  Convention  to  be  holden  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  Octo- 
ber in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1910: 

The  Custodian  of  the  Standard  Book  of  Common  Prayer  begs  lea\e 
to  present  his  report. 

The  last  General  Convention  having  amended  Canon  41  in  such 
manner  as  to  require  that  all  editions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
of  the  size  known  as  32mo  should  be  of  uniform  paging  with  the 
Standard,  I  ga\'e  notice  of  the  amendment  to  the  actual  publishers  of 
the  editions  of  the  book. 

Under  date  of  January  30,  1908,  I  issued  a  certificate  for  a  new 
edition  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  to  be  published  by  the  Oxford 
University  Press;  and  under  date  of  June  19,  1909,  I  issued  a  spe- 
cial certification  for  an  edition  in  six  copies  of  the  Litany,  etc.,  printed 
by  The  Irving  Press. 

A  copy  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  from  the  type  of  the  Stan- 
dard, duly  authenticated,  has  been  sent,  as  the  Canon  directs,  to  the 
Ecclesiastical  Authority  of  the  new  Diocese  of  Adanta.  Also,  copies 
of  the  same  edition  have  been  sent,  in  conformity  with  the  order  of 
the  Convention,  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  to  the  Library  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Virginia,  to  the  Library  of  the  DeLancey  Divinity 

*  Journal  of  the  General  Connjention,  1910,  p.  4.84. 

[|  Ixxxviii  "2 


GENERAL  CONVENTION 

School,  Geneva,  New  York,  and  to  the  \\'atkinson  Library,  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut. 

Among  the  books  acquired  for  the  Custodian's  collection  during  the 
past  three  years  are  an  additional  copy  of  the  Standard  Book  of  1793, 
having  bound  up  with  it  a  collection  of  46  selections  of  Psalms  and 
45  Hymns,  printed  at  Charleston  by  W.  P.  Young  in  1792;  also 
copies  of  eight  editions  of  the  Prayer  Book  not  already  in  the  collec- 
tion, as  follows: 

1808,  8\o.    Charleston,  TF.  P.  Young  [with  special  collection  of 

46  Psalms  and  47  Hywns)  ; 

1809,  32mo.  A'm-  York,  Smith  and  Forma n  [l808]  ; 

1837,     24mo.  Phila.,  JF.  Marshall  £s?  Co.,  and  Providence  [1836]  . 
1839,     24mo.  j\ew  York,  Louis  Sherman,  P.  E.  Press  [l838]  ;  ru- 
bricated and  proper  Psalms  at  end. 
[1858],  24mo.  Claremont,  N.  H .,  Manufacturing  Co. 

1858,  32mo.  New  York,  Delisser  ^  Proctor. 

1859,  8vo.    Phila.,  Bums  ^  Sieg\^Conn.\^^€\. 
[1864],  12mo.  Boston,  E.  P.  Button  £sf  Co.,  red  lines. 

J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  LL.D.,  in  continuation  of  former  gifts,  has 
added  to  the  Custodian's  collection  the  American  Prayer  Book  in  the 
G'debo  dialect  of  the  Kru  language,  authenticated  by  Bishop  Auer 
and  printed  at  Basel  in  1873  ;  the  American  Prayer  Book  in  French 
printed  at  New  York  in  1860;  the  Common  Prayer  Reformed  for 
the  use  of  the  Essex  Street  Chapel,  London,  1839 ;  the  Prayers  of 
Israel  with  an  English  translation.  New  York,  anno  mundi  5609; 
also,  an  8vo  reprint  of  the  Prayer  Book  of  1662  from  the  original 
manuscript,  and  works  bv  E\an  Daniel  and  Dr.  Morgan  Dix  on  the 
Prayer  Book. 

Miss  Jennette  Morrison,  of  Windsor,  Conn.,  has  presented  a  copy 

of  the  12mo  Prayer  Book  published  in  Boston,  1794,  by  Thomas 

&  Andre^^'s,  with  the  names  of  several  members  of  her  famih' ; 

Mrs.  N.  E.  Baylies  of  New  York  has  presented  an  8  vo  Bible  published 

[  Ixxxix  J 


ARCHIVES  OF    THE 

in  New  York,  1822,  by  White  &  Bliss  and  illustrated,  witli  an  8vo 
Prayer  Book  published  in  New  York,  1819,  by  W.  B.  Gilley,  uni- 
formly bound,  formerly  owned  by  her  parents,  Robert  and  Cornelia 
Ray,  and  also  a  Prayer  Book  published  by  D.  Appleton  &.  Co.,  1845, 
and  a  Prayer  Book  in  French,  published  by  the  New  York  Prayer 
Book  Society  in  184'6;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Packard  has 
presented  a  collection  of  428  Hymns,  "  compiled  bv  members  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  supplemental  to  the  Hymns  set  forth 
by  the  General  Convention  of  said  Church ;  preliminary  edition  for 
private  circulation,"  the  work  of  Bishop  George  Burgess  and  others, 
bearing  date  Advent,  1859. 

There  ha\e  also  been  added  to  the  collection  a  copy  of  The  Book  of 
Common  Prayer  reformed  according  to  the  plan  of  the  late  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Clarke,  with  the  Psalter  or  Psalms  of  David,  London,  1774,  to- 
gether with  a  sermon  by  Theophilus  Lindsey  and  others  of  his  works, 
probably  an  original  issue  of  the  book  on  \\hich  the  King's  Chapel 
Liturgy  was  based  ;  the  English  Prayer  Book  in  the  Irish  Language, 
Dublin,  1832  ;  a  small  copy  of  the  present  Church  of  Ireland  Prayer 
Book,  with  Church  Hymnal ;  Bishop  Hobart's  Clergyman's  Compan- 
ion, 1855  ;  Selections  of  Psalms  and  Hvmns,  8vo,  1850  (from  Christ 
Church,  Middle  Haddam,  Conn.);  Office  of  Devotion  for  Sunday 
Schools,  by  Bishop  Hobart  and  B.  T.  Onderdonk,  second  edition, 
1846;  Services  and  Hvmns  for  the  use  of  the  Unitarian  Church  at 
Charleston,  S.  C,  1867;  Devotional  Services  for  Public  Worship, 
edited  by  Reuen  Thomas,  Boston,  1893  ;  Prayers  and  Hymns  for  the 
Church  and  the  Home,  Universalist  Publishing  House,  Boston,  1871 ; 
Liturgy  for  the  New  Church,  Philadelphia,  1876;  Watts's  Psalms, 
Boston,  1808. 

There  are  now  in  the  Custodian's  Collection  examples  of  522  edi- 
tions of  the  American  Prayer  Book  printed  before  the  adoption  of  the 
present  Standard  in  1892.  Their  distribution  as  to  dates  of  publica- 
tion can  be  thus  shown : 

:  xc : 


GENEIL\L  CONVENTION 

1790-1799,  9  editions 
1800-1824,  66  editions 
1825-1839,  106  editions 
1840-1849,  103  editions 
1850-1859,  106  editions 
1860-1869,  85  editions 
1870-1890,  47  editions 
In  101  years,  522  edidons 

The  expenses  of  this  office  for  the  past  three  years  have  been,  for 
books  purchased  and  express  charges,  $25.59. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

Samuel  Hart, 

Custodian. 
Odlober  i,  1910.* 


The  following  have  been  the  members  of  the  different  Commissions 
on  the  Archives  belonging  to  the  General  Convention  from  1868  to 
May,  1911: 


THE   COMMISSION  ON  CHURCH  ARCHIVES 
1868-1883 

The  Right  Reverend  William  Bacon  Stevens,  d.d. 

The  Right  Reverend  William  Henry  Odenheimer,  d.d. 

The  Right  Reverend  John  Williams,  d.d. 

The  Reverend  Eben  Edwards  Beardsley,  d.d. 

The  Reverend  Thomas  Winthrop  Coit,  d.d. 

Robert  Charles  Winthrop,  ll.d. 

Hamilton  Fish,  ll.d. 


868-1883 
868-1879 
880-1883 
868-1883 
868-1883 
868-1883 
868-1883 


'Journal  of  the  General  Connjention,  1910,  p.  4.95. 

C  xci  ;] 


ARCHIVES 

THE  COMMISSION   ON   ARCHIVES 
1892-1911 

The  Right  Reverend  William  Croswell  Doane,  d.d.  1892- 

The  Right  Re\erend  William  Stevens  Perry,  d.d.  1892-1898 

The  Right  Reverend  Henry  Codman  Potter,  d.d.  1892-1908 

The  Right  Reverend  Leighton  Coleman,  d.d.  1892-1907 

The  Right  Reverend  William  Lawrence,  d.d.  1910- 

The  Right  Reverend  David  Hummell  Greer,  d.d.  1910- 

The  Reverend  Edwin  Harwood,  d.d.  1892-1898 

The  Reverend  Alfred  Brittin  Baker,  d.d.  1892- 

The  Reverend  Frederic  Gibson,  d.d.  1892-1895 

The  Reverend  Samuel  Hart,  d.d.  1895- 

The  Reverend  Charles  Comfort  Tiffany,  d.d.  1898-1907 

The  Reverend  George  Yemens  Bliss,  d.d.  1907- 

Henry  Hayes  1892-1895 

Asa  Bird  Gardiner,  ll.d.  1892- 

James  Grant  Wilson,  l.h.d.  1892- 

J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  ll.d.  1895- 


C  xcii  J 


THE  CORRESPONDENCE  OF 
JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 


PREFACE 

THE  deciswfi  to  publish  in  the  first  volumes  of  the  archives 
belonging  to  the  General  Convention  the  correspondence  of 
Bishop  Hobart  was  made  on  account  of  the  vivid  interest  that  is 
still  felt  among  Churchmen  in  regard  to  anything  which  relates 
to  the  Third  Bishop  of  New  York,  not  only  as  an  administrator 
of  a  great  parish  and  a  great  diocese,  but  as  a  man  who  touched 
human  life  at  so  many  points. 

The  correspondence  reveals  zvith  almost  photographic  minute- 
ness the  charatler  of  John  Henry  Hobart.  His  individuality  stands 
out  with  an  accuracy  of  detail  that  is  startling:  his  great  quali- 
ties as  well  as  his  temperamental  faults  and  shortcomings.  We 
learn  as  could  be  possible  in  no  other  way  the  wonderful  influ- 
ence he  everted  on  all  who  came  ivithin  the  glamour  of  his  per- 
sonality; we  see  hozv  he  attached  men  to  him  as  lfe-lo7ig  friends, 
and  how  he  commaJided  the  respect  of  those  zvho  opposed  his 
policies. 

The  value  of  this  correspondence  is  also  great  from  another 
aspedi.  It  is  of  value  to  the  scholar  and  historian  because  of 
the  minuteness  of  detail  zvith  zvhich  it  abounds.  Names  and  cus- 
toms of  the  day  stand  revealed.  The  letters  often  enable  us  to 
settle  a  date  or  fix  a  memory.  Some  of  the  correspondents  left 
but  little  mark  on  their  times,  others  were  men  of  eminence  in 
Church  or  State.  Many  a  letter  is  of  little  or  no  value  to  the 
biographer  of  Bishop  Hobart,  zvhile  it  is  of  peculiar  value  in 
throzving  light  on  the  records  of  some  parish,  or  on  the  life  of 
the  correspofident  himself,  or  on  some  person  me?itioned  therein. 

[  xcv  2 


PREFACE 

After  careful  consideration,  the  Sub-Committee  of  the  Commis- 
sion on  Archives  decided  that  every  letter  should  be  published, 
even  although  it  should  appear  to  be  of  little  value  historically. 
By  so  doing,  everything  is  permanently  placed  on  record  and 
available  to  the  future  historian.  The  closing  years  of  the  eight- 
eenth and  the  opening  years  of  the  nineteenth  century  were  a 
formative  period,  both  in  the  Church  a7id  the  nation. 

The  getting  together  the  great  amount  of  tnaterial  required 
for  the  Annotations  to  the  letters  would  have  been  almost  im- 
possible had  it  not  been  for  the  ready  and  courteous  assistance 
rendered  me  by  the  Librarians  and  Secretaries  of  Libraries,  Uni- 
versities, and  Historical  Societies  in  the  different  large  cities, 
especially  those  in  Baltimore,  Boston,  Brooklyn,  Hartford,  New 
Haven,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Princeton,  Washington,  and 
Madisoti,  fVisconsiii,  ajid  by  the  descendants  of  several  of  the 
correspondents  of  Bishop  Hobart.  To  these  and  to  all  who  have 
aided  me  in  this  work  of  research  I  wish  to  express  my  sincere 
thanks,  hut  above  all  I  must  place  on  record  my  obligations  to  my 
old  friend  and  fellow-worker ,  the  Reverend  Joseph  Hooper, M.  A., 
who  has  been  most  indefatigable  and  painstaking  in  the  tedious 
work  of  research  and  comparison  of  documents.  His  intimate 
acquaintance  xvith  the  unbeaten  paths  of  ecclesiastical  history  at 
the  close  of  the  eighteenth  and  opening  of  the  nineteenth  centuries 
has  enabled  the  Annotations  to  be  fuller  than  otherwise  ivould 
have  been  possible. 

The  letters  are  given  in  the  chronological  order  in  zvhich  they 
were  written.  Before  the  first  letter  of  a  correspondent  a  brief 
sketch  of  that  individual  is  given.  This  isfolloived  by  an  accu- 

C  xcvi  ^ 


PREFACE 

rate  transcript  of  the  letter  itself,  without  any  corrections  of 
spelling  or  punctuation.  Then  come  the  Annotations  on  the  events 
or  persons  mentioned  in  the  preceding  letter.  By  this  ?neans  it  is 
hoped  that  the  letters  can  be  read  as  intelligently  as  when  received 
a  himdred  or  more  years  ago. 

In  addition  to  the  Hobart  correspondence  belonging  to  the  ar- 
chives of  the  General  Co7ivention,  some  letters  zchich  have  recently 
been  discovered  and  which  belongto  the  Editor  have  been  included. 

The  great  charm  of  these  old  letters  is  that  zve  have  before  us 
not  a  biography  made  to  order.  The  life  and  zcork  of  Hobart  is 
revealed  almost  zveek  by  week  not  by  his  ozvn  zcords  only,  but  by 
those  of  his  correspondents.  In  addition  to  his  ozvn  portraiture 
zve  have  thus  presejited  to  us  the  men  and  ztwnen  of  that  day  as 
they  lived  and  felt  zvhen  they  zcrote  those  intimate  letters  without 
the  slightest  suspicion  that  they  zcould  ever  be  published  or  even 
preserved.  They  are  from  every  variety  of  persons,  dictated  by 
every  variety  offeelitig  and  dealing  with  every  variety  of  ques- 
tions. These  letters  are  now  gathered  together  in  "ojie  bundle  of 
life,"  bound  by  the  ofie  con7ieSfi?ig  cord  of  love  and  friendship  for 
John  Henry  Hobart. 

By  a  remarkable  coincidence  I  date  this  Preface  on  the  very 
day  when  Trinity  Church  is  celebrating  the  One  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  Consecration  to  the  Episcopate  of  its  great 
Rector. 

A.L. 

New  York 

May  31,  1 9 1 1 


C;  xcvii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

JOHN  HENRY,  the  youngest  son  of  Captain  Enoch  and  Han- 
nah (Pratt)  Hobart,  w  as  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1775.  Upon  his  father's  side  he  \vas  descended  from 
the  \er}^  best  New  England  stock. 

Edmund  Hobart,  a  gentleman  of  Norfolkshire,  England,  came  to 
Massachusetts  with  some  members  of  his  family  in  1633.  He  joined 
other  emigrants  from  the  same  country  in  forming  a  settlement  at 
Bare  Cove,  soon  named  Hingham,  in  Plymouth  County.  He  was 
followed  two  years  later  by  his  son,  the  Rev.  Peter  Hobart,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Cambridge  University  in  1626,  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of 
Norwich  in  1627.  He  had  a  good  benefice  in  England,  but  being 
firm  in  his  opinions  as  a  Puritan,  he  determined  to  seek  the  larger 
liberty  of  speech  and  action,  which  he  desired,  in  the  freer  air  of  the 
colony  beyond  the  sea.  In  a  diary  kept  by  him  of  baptisms,  mar- 
riages, and  deaths,  he  records  on  the  first  page:  "I  with  my  wife 
and  four  children  came  safely  to  New  England  June  y=  8,  1635, 
forever  praised  be  the  God  of  Heaven,  mj-  God  and  King."  He  was 
invited  to  settle  in  various  places,  but  declined.  He  threw  in  his  lot 
«ith  the  friends  and  neighbours  from  the  old  country,  and  was  made 
pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Hingham,  organized  in  September, 
1635.  Here  he  lived  for  forty-four  years,  a  guide,  friend,  and  coun- 
sellor to  two  generations.  He  \\"as  a  man  firm  in  his  convictions,  ever 
read}-  to  speak  his  mind,  and  was  undeterred  by  any  show  of  authority. 
On  one  occasion  he  was  forbidden  to  perform  a  marriage  in  Boston, 
the  magistrates  keeping  the  right  in  their  own  hands,  and  only  allow- 
ing a  minister  present  to  offer  pra3'er.  \\'^hen  he  wished  to  preach  in 
Boston,  and  to  argue  the  right  of  the  ministry  to  marry  people,  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop  said,  in  voting  for  not  allowing  him,  that  he  was  a 
"bold  man  and  would  speak  his  mind  to  the  people."  By  Cotton 
Mather  and  other  writers  of  this  period,  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
burning  and  shining  lights  of  the  clerical  aristocracy  in  Massachusetts. 

13  xcix  n 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

His  character  is  thus  summed  up  bj-  the  Hon.  Solomon  Lincoln, 
the  careful  historian  of  Hingham :  "Mr.  Hobart  was  a  scholar  dis- 
tinguished for  intellectual  ^igor,  glowing  zeal,  indefatigable  indus- 
try, and  various  acquirements.  Toward  the  close  of  life  his  mind 
seemed  to  rise  to  higher  efibrts  in  the  discharge  of  duty.  The  dis- 
courses which  have  been  preser\  ed  bear  strong  e\  idence  of  that  bold- 
ness of  denunciation  and  closeness  of  application  w  hich  attracted  the 
notice  and  secured  the  approbation  of  the  most  learned  theologians 
as  well  as  of  his  own  flock."  * 

Within  the  old  meeting-house,  built  two  years  after  his  death,  and 
still  in  use,  is  a  monument.  In  the  Hingham  Cemetery  is  a  memorial 
tablet  with  this  inscription : 

IN  MEMORY  OF  THE  REV°  PETER  HOBART 

WHO  DIED  JANUARY    20TH,    1 679 

IN  THE  SEVENTY-FIFTH  YEAR  OF  HIS  AGE 

AND  FIFTY  THIRD  OF  HIS  MINISTRY, 

NINE  YEARS  OF  WHICH   HE  SPENT  IN 

GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  FORTY   FOUR  IN 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Of  his  fifteen  children  ten  were  sons.  Four  of  them  became  minis- 
ters,f  the  others  held  honourable  positions  in  the  towns  and  colonies 
in  which  they  lived.  Joshua,  his  eldest  son,  was  lx)rn  in  England  in 
1629.  He  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1650.  In  1665 
he  sailed  for  the  Barbados,  West  Indies,  where  he  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  William  Vassal.  He  went  to  London  in  July,  1656.  He 
studied  medicine  and  seems  to  have  been  in  practice  in  Boston  and 
elsewhere.  His  first  wife  died  in  1659.  In  1672  he  married  Mrs. 
Mary  Rainsford,  in  Boston.  On  October  7,  1674,  he  was  ordained 

*  An  Address  deli'vered  before  the  Citizens  of  the  Tonvn  of  Hingham  on  the  Tiventy-eighth  of 
September,  1835,  being  the  Tiuo  Hundredth  Anni'versary  of  the  To-ivn,  by  Solomon  Lincoln, 
p.  16.  Hingham:  Jedidiah  Farmer,  1835,  Svo,  pp.  63. 

f  Joshua,  see  text.  Jeremiah,  born  1630,  Harvard  College  1650,  ordained  1672,  minister  of 
Hempstead,  Long  Island,  and  Haddam,  Connecticut;  died  November  6,  17 15.  Gershom,  bom 
1645,  Harvard  1667,  ordained  at  Groton,  Massachusetts,  and  died  there  1712.  Nehemiah,  bom 
1648,  Harvard  1667,  ordained  at  Newton,  Massachusetts,  and  died  there  1712. 

[  c : 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

as  pastor  of  Southold,  Long  Island,  \\hich  was  essentially  a  New 
England  town,  and  considered  a  part  of  that  section  of  country.  He 
succeeded  the  beloved  John  Youngs,  the  first  minister,  a  man  univer- 
sall}'  esteemed.  Here  he  remained  for  forty-three  years  as  phjsician 
and  clergyman,  esteemed  by  all,  and  died  on  February  28,  1716. 
By  a  vote  of  the  tow n  in  1727,  a  monument  was  to  be  placed  over 
the  grave.  It  was  not  erected  until  1732,  as  this  entry  in  the  town 
record  shows:  "October  31 -1732- the  building  Mr.  Hobart's  tomb, 
with  stone,  lime  and  tendence  16s  lid  "  The  stone  is  a  heavy  slab 
placed  horizontally,  supported  by  pillars.  There  is  now  no  inscription. 
Traditionally  it  has  been  said  that  a  slab  of  marble  containing  it 
was  inserted;  some  maintain  that  it  was  cut  upon  a  leaden  tablet 
which  was  destroyed  by  the  British  soldiers  in  the  Re\olution.  This 
seems  more  probable.  The  inscription  was  composed  by  the  famous 
Dr.  Mather  Byles  of  Boston.  After  a  long  search,  the  venerable  Dr. 
Epher  Whittaker,  pastor  of  the  church,  found  a  copy  of  the  epi- 
taph which  he  prints  in  his  "History:" 

THE  REV.    JOSHUA  HOBART 

BORN  AT  HINGHAM,   JULY    1629 

EXPIRED  IN  SOUTHOLD  FEB.    28,   1716. 

HE  WAS  A  FAITHFUL  MINISTER,    A  SKILLFUL  PHYSICIAN, 

A  GENERAL  SCHOLAR,    A  COURAGEOUS  PATRIOT, 

AND  TO  CROWN  ALL,    AN  EMINENT  CHRISTIAN. 

BENEATH  THE  SACRED  HONOURS  OF  THIS  TOMB 

IN  PENSrVE  SILENCE  AND  MAJESTIC  GLOOM 

THE  MAN  OF  GOD  CONCEALS  HIS  REVEREND  HEAD 

AMIDST  THE  AWFUL    MANSIONS  OF  THE  DEAD. 

NO  MORE  THE  STATESMAN  SHALL  ASSERT  THE  LAWS 

AND  IN  THE  SENATE   PLEAD  HIS  COUNTRY'S  CAUSE; 

IN  THE  SAD  CHURCH  NO  MORE  THE  LISTENING  THRONG 

GAZE  ON  HIS  EYES  AND  DWELL  UPON  HIS  TONGUE. 

NO  MORE  HIS  HEALING  HAND  SHALL  HEALTH  RESTORE, 

ELUDE  THE  GRAVE  AND  BATTLE  DEATH  NO  MORE. 

IN    EDEN'S  FLOWERY  VALES  HIS  SPIRIT  ROVES 

WHERE  STREAMS  OF  LIFE  FLOW  THROUGH  IMMORTAL  GROVES. 

FIXED  IN  DEEP  SLUMBERS  HERE  THE  DUST  IS  GIVEN 

TILL  THE  LAST  TRUMP  SHAKES  THE  FRAME  OF  HEAVEN. 

[  ci   ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

THEN  NEW  TO  LIFE  THE  WAKING  SAINT  SHALL  RISE 
AND  GAY  IN  GLORY  GLITTER  UP  THE  SKIES 
WITH  SMILING  JOYS,  AND  HEAVENLY  RAPTURE  CROWNED, 
BID  ENDLESS  AGES  WHEEL  THEIR  NEVER  CEASING  ROUND.' 

There  is  no  extant  record  of  any  children  by  Mr.  Hobart's  first 
wife.  By  his  second  wife  he  had  at  least  two  sons :  Peter,  born  in 
Southold  in  1676,  and  John,  born  in  1677.  A  daughter  was  born 
in  Boston  in  1674,  who  married  Mr.  Way.  There  is  a  supposed  third 
son,  Isaac,  who  cannot  be  traced.  Peter  is  believed  to  ha\e  been  a 
sailor,  and  apparendy  left  no  descendants.  John  went  south  in  1707 
and  settled  in  Southwark,  now  a  part  of  Philadelphia.  He  married 
there  a  lady  of  Swedish  descent.  He  is  found  in  New  London  in  1733, 
but  evidently  his  sojourn  was  temporary.  His  eldest  son  Enoch  was 
born  in  1726;  his  younger  son  Peter  was  born  October  19,  1727. 
John  Hobart  returned  to  the  Church  of  his  fathers,  and  was  a  wor- 
shipper at  Christ  Church  and  Gloria  Dei  Church,  also  known  as  the 
Old  Swedes'  Church.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  character  and 
influence.  His  son  Enoch  became  a  merchant,  trading  with  the  West 
Indies.  He  built,  equipped,  and  commanded  his  own  vessels.  He  Mas 
scrupulously  honest  and  exact  in  all  his  dealings,  and  had  a  ^■ery 
large  and  profitable  trade.  In  the  islands  and  among  his  business 
associates  in  Philadelphia,  he  was  known  as  the  "honest  Yankee." 
He  was  married  to  Hannah,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Clay- 
poole)  Pratt,  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  by  the  Rev.  William 
Sturgess,  the  rector.  May  3,  1755. 

Mrs.  Hobart  was  descended  from  Captain  Henry  Pratt,  a  son  of 
Henry  Pratt, ' '  pewterer, ' '  of  London.  Captain  Pratt  uas  master  of  "  a 
London  ship  in  the  American  trade,"  and  married  "in  or  near  Bos- 
ton," Hannah  Hobart. f  She  was  an  aunt  of  Captain  Enoch  Hobart. 
Her  grandson  says  that  w  hen  he  was  a  boy,  about  1744,  two  of  her 

»  History  of  Southold  :  Its  First  Century,  by  the  Rev.  Epher  Whittaker,  Pastor  of  the  First 
Church  of  Southold,  Councillor  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society,  Corresponding  Member 
of  the  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Society,  etc.,  p.  244.  Southold:  Printed  for 
the  author  in  1881,  izmo,  pp.  viii,  354. 
t  Manuscript  RecoUeftionsofMatthewPrattjin  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society,  Philadelphia. 

c  cii : 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

sisters,  Mary,  who  married  jVIr.  Gordon,  and  Frances,  who  married 
Mr.  James  Pellar,  were  living  in  Philadelphia,  as  well  as  Captain 
Enoch  and  Robert  Hobart.* 

Henry  Pratt,  the  father  of  Hannah,  a  gold  and  siher-smith  b}"  trade, 
w  as  a  successful  man,  and  purchased  real  estate  largely.  One  of  his 
sons,  Matthew,  was  an  artist  of  decided  ability,  and  a  friend  of  Ben- 
jamin A\^est.  He  brought  up  a  family  of  se\en  children,  m ho  were  all 
w  ell  educated,  both  in  useful  knowledge  and  the  accomplishments  of 
life.  Mrs.  Hobart  and  her  sister  Deborah,  A\ho  married  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Ruff,  were  noted  for  their  facility  in  writing  and  for  their  artistic  talent. 

The  house  of  Captain  Hobart  was  on  the  north  side  of  Walnut  Street. 
It  A\as  large  and  comfortable  and  known  as  Number  79.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  century  Mrs.  Hobart's  neighbours  were  persons  of  standing 
in  the  city  and  state ;  among  them  were  Bishop  White,  Judge  Richard 
Peters,  Peter  Boynton,  Joseph  Bullock,  and  Miss  Sarah  Pemberton. 
The  site  of  the  house  is  in  part  co^  ered  by  the  Merchant's  Exchange. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  them  : 

Mary,  March  8,  1756;  bapdzed  April  4. 

Rebecca,  July  20,  1757;  baptized  August  14. 

Mary,  May  3,  1759;  baptized  June  3. 

Rebecca,  August  5,  1760;  baptized  August  30. 

Robert  Enoch,  September  30,  1761;  baptized  October  25. 

Deborah,  September  12,  1763;  baptized  October  16. 

Deborah,  April  7,  1766;  baptized  May  18. 

Robert  Kvoch,  April  25,  1768;  baptized  May  29. 

John  Henry,  September  14,  1775;  baptized  October  15. 

Four  of  their  children  died  young.  Sketches  of  Rebecca  and  Robert 
Enoch  will  be  found  in  the  annotations  upon  the  first  letter  of  John 
Henry  Hobart  to  his  mother.  The  youngest  daughter  of  Captain 
Hobart,  Mary,  known  as  "Polly,"  was  a  helpless  invalid. 

Both  Captain  and  Mrs.  Hobart  Mere  devout  members  of  Christ 
Church,  Philadelphia.  Captain  Hobart  died  on  October  27,  1776,  to 

*  Manuscript  RecoIleiSionsof  Matthew  Pratt,  in  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society,  Philadelphia. 

[  ciii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  great  grief  of  liis  family  and  friends.  This  tlirew  tiie  care  and 
responsibiUty  of  training  the  children  upon  Mrs.  Hol^art.  Her  husband 
had  retired  from  acti\  e  business  ^\  ith  a  ^■ery  moderate  fortune,  \\  hich 
was  carefully  invested,  and  yielded  an  income  sufficient  to  keep  the 
family  in  comfort  and  to  educate  the  children.  Mrs.  Hobart  was  capa- 
ble, energetic,  and  above  all,  deeply  religious.  She  brought  up  her 
children  weW,  physically,  morallv,  and  spiritually.  Upon  her  young- 
est son  she  seems  to  ha%  e  bestowed  a  double  portion  of  her  care.  John 
Henry  was  taught  at  home  until  old  enough  to  enter  the  grammar 
school  of  Mr.  Leslie,  who  \\as  an  excellent  teacher  and  held  in  the 
highest  regard.  It  Mas  at  this  school  that  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
chronic  indigestion.  Like  other  children,  eager  to  be  early  at  the  after- 
noon session,  he  would  hurry  home,  eat  a  hearty  dinner,  and  then  run 
back  to  school  without  allowing  time  for  proper  digestion. 

The  Episcopal  Academy  of  Philadelphia  had  been  founded  by  earnest 
Churchmen,  who  were  con\inced  that  religion  and  learning  should 
be  united.  It  was  opened  in  April,  1794,  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Andrews,  afterward  Vice-Pro^  ost  and  Provost  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  as  rector.  Of  this  distinguished  man,  his  pupil,  the 
Hon.  William  Meredith,  savs :  "  Dr.  Andrews  was  known  to  be  one 
of  the  ripest  classical  scholars  in  the  country.  He  had  great  skill  and 
experience  in  teaching,  and  never  spared  himself  in  the  performance 
of  duty;  besides  in  his  very  manners  and  appearance,  there  was  that 
which  'bespoke  a  man' — all  that  conciliates  affection  and  esteem, 
and  challenges  profound  respect.  He  was  a  Churchman  by  education 
and  conviction,  of  exalted  piety,  and  of  that  loftiness  of  character 
which  was  above  the  reach  of  the  grovelling  or  crafty.  No  man  was 
at  a  loss  to  infer  his  motives  or  purposes,  either  from  his  speech  or 
actions.  He  Mas  consistent,  open,  and  direct,  for  he  was  ne\er  of  that 
school  of  time-serving  philosophers,  with  whom  policj-  is  of  more  worth 
than  sincerity  and  truth.  His  passions  and  affections  were  powerful 
and  ardent,  and  appeared  the  more  so  as  the  constitutional  tempera- 
ment of  his  body  \\  as  nervous ;  but  he  governed  them  w  ell,  observing 
C  civ  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  apostle's  precept,  'Be  ye  angry  and  sin  not.'  Malice  and  \  indic- 
tiveness  were  unknown  to  him,  and  arrogance  was  contrar\-  to  his 
nature.  In  short,  a  more  frank,  honourable,  and  upright  man,  or  a 
better  specimen  of  a  Christian  gentleman,  has  never  fallen  within  the 
range  of  mvobser\ation.  In  the  earl v  history  of  the  American  Church, 
it  is  w  ell  known  that  he  was  among  the  most  able,  sound,  and  zealous 
of  her  sons."  *  It  was  under  this  sound  and  zealous  man  that  the  bov 
of  nine  was  placed  to  be  prepared  for  college. 

His  friend  and  schoolmate,  Mr.  Meredith,  gives  a  picture  of  his 
course,  which  was  with  honour  and  the  approbation  of  both  teach- 
ers and  fellow-students.  Although  younger  than  many  in  the  school, 
he  took  his  part  in  the  contests  for  supremacy.  Mr.  Meredith  says: 
"Among  boys,  rank  is  generally  conceded  more  to  bodily  than  in- 
tellectual power.  It  was  less  the  case  in  regard  to  Hobart  than  usual. 
There  were  iew  of  his  years  who  were  not  taller  or  more  robust  than 
he;  but  he  was  acti\e,  muscular,  and  well  set,  and  what  was  more 
than  all  these,  he  was  of  approved  courage;  hence  he  was  looked 
upon  as  a  combatant  to  be  respected,  if  not  to  be  feared.  Besides,  he 
was  ever  anxious  to  have  his  quarrel  just;  and  in  our  litde  squabbles 
on  the  plav-ground,  and  more  serious  rencontres,  we  often  heard  him 
maintaining  its  justice  bv  impassioned  harangues,  which  in  vehemence 
might  well  have  suited  one  of  Homer's  heroes.  The  singularity  of  these 
exercises,  whether  thev  convinced  or  not,  amused  us,  and  often  made 
strife  and  anger  give  place  to  mirth  and  good  humour.  The  parley  af- 
forded time  at  least  for  cooling  and  diversion  from  the  cause  of  irri- 
tation ;  but  if  the  onset  were  once  made,  I  cannot  remember  an  instance 
in  which  our  young  friend  turned  his  back  upon  the  foe,  \\  hether  he 
was  destined  at  last  to  be  crowned  victor,  or  to  yield  in  defeat. "  + 

Of  a  conflict  with  authority,  this  is  the  graphic  account:  "One  in- 
stance, and  but  one  is  recollected,  in  which  he  was  the  subject  of  cor- 
poral chasrisement  in  the  academy.  It  was  inflicted  by  Mr.  E. ,  a  tutor, 
who  was  an  exceedingly  good  scholar,  but  a  most  unamiable  man. 

*McVic)car"s  Earlf  Tiars,  p.  6.  \Ihui.,  p.  7. 

C  cv  n 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

There  had  been  some  disorderly  conduct,  and  Hobart  \\  as  charged 
as  being  a  party  to  it.  He  replied  w  ith  coolness  and  respectfulness, 
'I  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.'  Such  \vas  the  fact.  'Who  made  the 
noise  then?'  inquired  the  angr}^  tutor.  'I  did  not,'  answered  the  ac- 
cused. Punishment  followed  for  his  refusal  to  inculpate  others.  There 
was  profound  silence — he  submitted.  And  I  remember  the  stateli- 
ness  w  ith  which  he  returned  to  his  place,  while  a  buzz  of  applause 
sounded  through  the  room :  the  triumph  \\"as  his,  ^hile  the  defeat 
was  E.'s,  who  was  shortly  after  dismissed."* 

The  young  pupil  was  the  founder  of  a  "Society  for  the  Ad\ance- 
ment  of  its  Members  in  Useful  Literature."  Two  documents  came 
down  to  his  famil}^  as  survivals  of  his  efforts,  when  only  ten  years  old, 
for  the  good  of  his  companions :  a  written  defence  from  a  member  for 
refusing  to  write  an  essay,  and  a  bill  for  three  quarters  of  a  yard  of 
green  baize  to  cover  the  speaker's  desk,  hinges,  andalock.  The  amount 
was  four  shillings  and  six  pence.  It  is  to  the  period  of  his  school 
life  that  a  request  to  his  mother  to  buy  ' '  Elegant  Extracts  in  Poetry  " 
belongs.  This  shows  the  bov's  eagerness  for  improvement.  He  was 
fond  of  declaiming,  but  preferred  to  follo^v  his  own  way  of  rendering 
a  passage.  This  sometimes  exposed  him  to  smiles  and  even  laughter, 
as  when  he  persisted  in  altering  the  rhythm  of  a  line  in  his  favourite 
piece,  the  speech  of  Cassius  on  the  ambition  of  Julius  Caesar. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  ready  to  enter  the  Uni\ersity.  On  March 
31,  1790,  without  urging,  he  took  the  important  step  of  confirmation, 
at  the  hands  of  Bishop  White.  It  shows  his  deep  religious  feeling  at 
a  time  when  confirmation  was  thought  to  be  only  for  those  of  mature 
years. 

The  course  of  the  3"Oung  student  at  the  UuIa ersity  of  Pennsyhania 
was  a  continuation  of  his  success  at  school.  He  was  brilliant  and  pro- 
gressive. Here  also  he  A\as  prominent  in  a  society  for  debate  and 
oratory,  called  the  Philomathean.  From  some  of  its  records  we  learn 
that  its  members  were  held  to  a  strict  obedience  to  rules.  It  was  suc- 

*  McVickar's  £ar/y  Tears,  p.  S. 

C  cvi  '2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

ceeded  soon  by  another,  known  as  the  Ciceronian,  which  endeavoured 
to  train  its  members  w  ith  equal  firmness,  as  extant  portions  of  its 
records  show. 

Mr.  Hobart  spent  three  years  at  the  university,  and  then  was  placed 
at  the  best  known  college  in  the  Middle  States,  the  College  of  New- 
Jersey,  usually  styled  Nassau  Hall.  Its  learned,  dignified  President 
was  Dr.  Witherspoon,  who  combined  with  his  very  profoiuid  scholar- 
ship a  keen  appreciation  of  young  men.  As  a  teacher,  writer,  and  pa- 
triot, he  excited  great  admiration.  He  was  then  an  old  man,  but  still 
vigorous  and  active.  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  "accomplished 
and  eloquent,"  was  vice-president.  Mr.  Hobart  found  himself  able 
to  enter  the  junior  class,  and  thus  spent  only  two  vears  as  a  student. 
In  this  time  he  formed  several  strong  friendships.  His  firm  grasp  upon 
any  given  subject  made  him  superior  in  any  debate  or  controversj-. 

It  was  at  the  date  of  his  proceeding  to  Princeton  that  his  friend, 
James  Robertson,  afterward  president  of  the  Richmond  Bank,  de- 
scribes him  :  "I  first  met  him  in  the  month  of  September,  1791,  when 
he  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  had,  a  short  time  before,  left 
the  University  of  Pennsj-lvania,  and  it  was  decided  by  his  family, 
and  approved  of  by  himself,  that  he  should  finish  his  collegiate  edu- 
cation at  Princeton.  I  then  resided  in  the  family  of  Robert  Smith,  of 
Philadelphia,  who,  in  the  month  of  July,  was  married  to  a  sister  of 
Mr.  Hobart.  It  was  in  this  family  that  I  became  acquainted  with 
him.  I  ha^e  at  this  time  a  distinct  and  lively  recollection  of  our  first 
meeting,  and  of  the  general  tenour  of  our  conversation  during  the 
e\enings  which  we  spent  together;  and  before  we  parted,  I  formed 
an  attachment  to  him,  which  I  have  never  ceased  to  cherish.  He 
was  between  two  and  three  years  younger  than  I  was,  and  had  been, 
from  the  usual  age,  employed  in  the  appropriate  studies  prepara- 
tory to  a  classical  education  :  on  the  other  hand,  mine  had  been  very 
limited,  confined  to  our  own  language,  and  what  was  usually  taught 
in  a  common  English  school.  Notwithstanding  these  differences, 
however,  in  our  pre\ious  occupations  and  pursuits,  and  in  our  a iews 
t  cvii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

and  prospects  for  after  life,  we  became  friends  at  once.  At  the  very 
first  interview  we  felt  entire  confidence  in  each  other,  and  entered 
fully  into  each  other's  feelings,  wishes,  and  hopes.  He  looked  for- 
ward with  pleasure  to  the  many  ad\antages  which  Princeton  College 
then  held  out  to  \oung  men  who  \\ ould  faithfully  a.\ai\  themsehes 
of  them,  while  I,  with  a  strong  desire  for  impro\  ement,  was  doomed 
to  drudge  at  an  employment  always  irksome  to  me,  but  \\hich 
necessaril_v  occupied  the  most  of  my  time  and  attention."  * 

His  earliest  biographer,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Schroeder,  says:  "In  native 
talent  and  indefatigable  industry,  young  Hobart  was  not  surpassed 
by  any  of  his  fellow-students.  To  the  highest  honours  of  his  class  he 
looked  forv\ard  with  a  steady  purpose  ;  and  he  attained  unto  the  first 
two  to  whom  these  honours  were  awarded.  '  For  his  scholarship,'  says 
one  of  the  present  officers  of  the  Institution,  John  Maclean,  A.M., 
Vice-President  and  Professor  of  Languages,  'For  his  scholarship  he 
was  particularly  distinguished,  having,  in  the  opinion  of  the  faculty, 
no  superior,  and  but  one  equal,  in  a  class  consisting  of  but  twenty- 
one  members.  The  individual  who  shared  with  him  the  first  honour 
was  Mr.  Bennet  Taylor,  of  Virginia.'  As  it  was  the  standing  rule 
at  Princeton,  that  the  Oration,  which  is  called  the  Latin  Salutatory, 
was  to  be  considered  the  appropriate  reward  of  the  most  distin- 
guished scholar  in  each  class ;  and  as  two  of  the  same  class  were 
this  year  judged  equally  entitled  to  it,  the  oration  was  to  be  assigned 
to  one  of  them  by  lot.  In  the  classical  manner  of  seeking  fates,  by 
opening  Virgil  and  applying  the  first  seen  passage  as  an  oracular 
response,  a  decision  might  have  been  made,  in  a  manner  suited  to 
the  delicate  refinement  of  Mr.  Hobart's  friend,  the  Professor  of 
Moral  Philosophy,  Dr.  Smith.  But  Mr.  Taylor's  friend,  the  Mathe- 
matical Professor  Minto,  instead  of  the  sortes  Firgi/ianae,  used  a  less 
elegant,  but  more  absolute  and  summary  resolution  of  the  problem. 
It  is  related  by  one  of  the  present  trustees  of  the  college,  that  'Pro- 
fessor Minto  threw  up  a  coin,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the  class, 

*From  Bcrrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  pp.  15-16. 

[  cviii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

exclaiming  humourously,  head's  for  Hobart,  tail's  for  Taylor.'  The 
coin  thus  cast  conferred  the  doubtful  prize  on  John  Henry  Hobart."  * 

The  public  exercises,  ho\\e\er,  were  never  held,  as  yellow  fever 
was  raging  in  Philadelphia  and  throughout  the  country.  The  diplo- 
mas were  awarded  privately. 

After  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  he  entered  the  counting-room  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Smith.  It  had  been  thought  by  his  classmates 
that  a  man  so  equipped  would  certainly  study  law  or  enter  a  learned 
profession.  While  li\'ing,  during  the  prevalence  of  the  fever,  at  Mr. 
Smith's  country  seat  at  Frankford  and  going  into  Philadelphia  for 
business,  he  was  endeavouring  to  reconcile  himself  to  his  present 
work.  But  though  he  was  diligent,  his  heart  was  not  in  it,  and  his 
mother,  brother-in-law,  and  other  friends  saw  that  it  would  be  best 
for  him  to  continue  his  studies.  An  agreeable  offer  was  made  to  him 
in  the  fall  of  1793: 

Princeton,  Nov.   1 8,  1793 

Dear  Sir, 

It  has  been  suggested  that  your  own  inclination  would  lead  you 
to  pursue  your  liberal  studies  to  a  greater  extent,  and  that  a  residence 
at  Princeton  would  not  be  disagreeable  to  you,  in  order  to  have  the 
more  leisure  for  impro\ement.  Although  I  have  reason  to  believe  that 
advantageous  proposals  ^\  ill  be  made  you  by  Mr.  Smith,  yet  I  have 
been  desired  to  inquire  whether  or  not  you  will  accept  of  an  appoint- 
ment in  the  College,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Abeel.  I  know  not  your 
private  %  iew  s,  nor  how  such  a  situation  would  accord  with  your  ideas ; 
but  if  you  were  willing  to  accept  the  appointment,  there  is  no  person 
uho  would  more  unanimously  obtain  it ;  and  I  must  say  for  myself, 
that  it  would  be  peculiarly  agreeable  to  me.  Your  answer  to  this  in- 
quiry, by  the  first  post,  will  very  much  oblige. 
Dear  Sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Sam.  S.  Smith 

*Schroeder'b  Memoir,  pp.  xxii  and  xxiii. 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Mr.  Hobart  made  this  frank  reply: 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  23,  1793. 
Sir, 

I  MUST  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  eighteenth 
instant,  and  should  ha\e  sooner  paid  the  necessary  attention,  had 
not  its  contents,  interesting  in  a  high  degree  to  my  future  welfare  and 
happiness,  required  consideration.  The  confidence  of  the  Faculty, 
with  which  I  am  so  unexpectedly  honoured,  excited  in  my  mind 
a  lively  gratitude,  accompanied  by  a  feeling  of  the  necessity  of  the 
most  unremitted  exertions  on  my  part,  to  fulfil  with  honour  the  of- 
fice they  would  confer  on  me.  A  desire  to  pursue,  with  advantage, 
studies  of  a  liberal  nature,  and  also  to  have  leisure  for  reflection  and 
improvement,  ha\  e  induced  me  to  look  upon  a  residence  at  Princeton 
as  desirable;  and  I  had  it  in  contemplation,  with  the  consent  of  my 
friends,  to  remo\e  there,  to  pursue  my  studies  in  a  private  capacity. 
But  as  the  offer  to  which  your  letter  has  reference,  would  afford  a 
greater  scope  for  improvement,  my  own  wishes,  and,  of  consequence, 
the  consent  of  my  friends,  lead  to  the  acceptance  of  it.  At  the  same 
time  I  repeat  the  declaration,  that  I  am  fully  sensible  the  greatest 
exertions  on  my  part  could  alone  qualify  me  for  the  honourable 
discharge  of  its  important  duties :  these  I  can  safely  promise,  from 
a  principle  of  duty,  shall  not  be  wanting.  The  wish  of  the  Faculty 
on  this  subject  should  be  handed  to  me  by  the  first  opportunity,  as 
immediate  preparations  will  be  necessary.  With  a  high  sense  of  the 
honour  conferred  on  me  by  the  confidence  of  the  Facultv,  and  of  your 
kind  wishes  with  respect  to  mj-  futiu-e  engagements,  I  remain 
Their  and  your 

Most  obliged  servant, 

John  H.  Hobart* 

This  correspondence  shows  the  regard  felt  for  Mr.  Hobart  and  his 
own  conscientious  desire  to  fulfil  the  expectations  of  his  college  friends. 

*  Berrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  37. 

C  ex  -] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Through  a  misunderstanding  the  tutorship  was  otherw  ise  filled.  Mr. 
Hobart,  while  disappointed,  was  anxious  to  retin-n  to  Princeton  and 
join  the  Di\  inity  class  formed  by  Dr.  Smith.  He  w  as  a  firm  and  faith- 
ful Churchman.  His  principles  were  fixed,  and  few  men  could  impart 
a  better  knowledge  of  the  elements  of  theology  and  church  history 
than  the  Princeton  professor. 

Of  this  time  of  perplexity  and  anxiety.  Dr.  Berrian  says:  "He had 
been  struck  w  ith  the  advantages  w  hich  this  situation  offered  for  study 
and  reflection,  but  then  he  feared,  notw  ithstanding  the  support  and 
indulgence  which  he  hoped  to  meet  with  from  the  Faculty,  that  the 
duties  of  the  office  would  require  more  ability  and  experience  than 
could  reasonably  be  expected  at  his  early  age;  and  that  he  should  be 
obliged  to  shake  oft"  his  former  pleasing  intimacy  with  some  of  the 
students,  and  perhaps  draw  on  him  the  ill  will  of  others ;  and  that 
he  should  not  participate  in  the  enjoyments  and  impro\  ement  to  be 
derived  from  that  favourite  society  (The  Whig  Society)  in  whose 
business  and  discussions  he  had  always  taken  so  conspicuous  a  part. 
These  are  some  of  the  reasons  which  led  him  to  waver  in  regard  to 
this  step ;  but  there  were  others  still  more  weighty  which  increased 
his  hesitation.  'My  friends,'  he  remarks,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Skinner, 
'  though  they  acquiesced  in  this  scheme,  were  averse  to  it.  It  is  their 
wish  that  I  should  be  with  them.  My  mother  also  would  lose  a  great 
part  of  her  happiness  were  I  to  be  away  from  her :  she  is  now  in  the 
decline  of  life.  Her  children's  happiness  and  interests  have  been  the 
objects  of  all  her  exertions,  and  these  now  demand  from  them  every 
attention  which  it  is  in  their  power  to  render.  Uncertain  how  long 
she  might  be  with  us,  I  could  not  think  of  leaving  her.  She  and  all 
my  other  relations,  however,  wished  me  to  go,  if  I  thought  it  would 
be  most  to  my  advantage  and  interest. 

"  'I  considered,  also,  that  if  I  were  to  go  to  Princeton  and  engage 

as  tutor,  it  might  be  expected  that  I  should  join  the  Presbyterian 

communion,  and  enter  the  ministry  of  that  Church.  As  this  would 

not  be  my  wish,  I  am  apprehensive  that  my  situation  there  would  not 

L  cxi  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

be  altogether  agreeable.  .  .  .  There  was  another  reason,  which  I  for- 
got to  mention.  As  I  intended  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  it  \\ould  be  most  proper  that  I  should  study  under  an  Epis- 
copal minister.  Having  thus  made  up  my  mind,  I  feel  an  ease  \\  hich 
I  have  not  enjoyed  since  fall.' 

"This  subject  takes  up  a  considerable  part  of  fne  different  letters 
\\  hich  he  ^vrote  to  his  friend  Mr.  Skinner.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable, 
that  he  who  at  this  time  A\as  so  slow,  hesitating,  and  doubtful,  at  a 
later  period  of  his  life  w  as  as  quick  as  lightning  in  thought  and  action. 

"Dr.  Smith,  on  learning  the  change  which  had  taken  place  in  his 
sentiments,  endeavoured  to  obviate  the  reasons  upon  w  hich  it  was 
founded ;  and  with  respect  to  his  religious  opinions,  he  assured  him 
that  no  improper  bias  should  be  given  to  his  mind. 

"The  President  was  aware  of  his  attachment  from  principle  and 
habit,  to  the  Episcopal  Church  ;  so  far,  therefore,  from  wishing  to  in- 
fluence him  in  favour  of  another,  he  remarked,  that  it  would  be  his 
duty  to  have  a  constant  reference  to  his  establishment  in  the  Church 
for  which  he  was  designed,  and  that,  agreeably  to  these  views,  he 
would  furnish  him  with  every  facility  in  his  power.  This  letter, 
which  reflected  so  much  honour  on  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  writer, 
and  gave  so  flattering  a  testimony  to  the  scholarship  and  worth  of 
Mr.  Hobart,  led  him  finally  to  comply  with  the  request;  and  accord- 
ingly in  the  spring  of  1794,  he  went  to  Princeton."* 

His  friend  Dr.  Caldwell  says:  "There  was  a  class  of  us,  who  were 
studying  theology  at  that  time  under  Dr.  Smith.  Mr.  Hobart,  one  of 
our  number,  was  known  to  be  decidedly  Episcopal  in  his  views.  He 
was  Arminian  in  his  sentiments ;  the  rest  of  us  were  Calvinistic.  He 
was  always  strenuous,  in  everything  which  he  deemed  a  peculiarity 
of  opinion  distinguished  him  from  others,  whenever  circumstances 
evolved  it  into  \'iew  ;  but  we  a\  ere  in  habits  of  the  utmost  forbearance 
and  good  feeling.  If  at  any  moment  a  spark  appeared,  struck  out  in  dis- 
cussion in  consequence  of  peculiarity  in  Church  or  doctrine,  it  seemed 

*  Berrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  38. 

C  cxii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

instanth"  understood,  that  it  \\as  to  be  permitted  to  drop  and  disappear. 
The  business  of  the  class  occupied  much  of  his  time ;  and  no  small 
portion  of  it  was  gi\en  to  the  preparation  of  Dr.  Smith's  lectures, 
\\  hich  ^\■e  had  to  write  and  to  study  closely.  We  had  also  to  prepare 
experimental  discourses,  on  such  texts  as  we  selected  for  ourselves. 
I  cannot  doubt,  that  his  books  were  selected  from  Episcopal  sheh  es 
principally ;  and  I  remember,  that  his  references  often  indicated  this, 
and  that  we  all  considered  it  so.  His  feelings,  as  I  have  said,  Mere 
apt  to  kindle  quickly  on  e\ery  subject.  This  ga\e  eloquence  to  his 
effusions.  He  had  a  ready  utterance,  indicating  copiousness  both  in 
thought  and  pertinent  expression.  We  did  not  estimate  him  as  pro- 
found, but  always  interesting,  and  generally  very  amiable."* 

In  1796  Mr.  Hobart  became  a  tutor.  This  gave  him  authority,  but  he 
did  not  give  up  his  association  with  the  students,  many  of  whom  he 
was  strongly  impressing  with  true  moralitj-  and  pure  religion.  He  still 
continued  his  private  examination  of  the  doctrines,  discipline,  and  wor- 
ship of  the  Church  under  the  guidance  of  Bishop  White.  He  thor- 
oughly grounded  himself,  and  allowed  no  point  that  was  obscure  to 
escape  his  notice  without  an  endeavour  to  make  it  clear  for  himself. 
In  this  manner  he  drew  near  the  time  fixed  for  his  ordination.  W'ith- 
draM'ing  from  Princeton  early  in  the  spring  of  1798,  he  spent  the  re- 
maining weeks  in  special  study  and  sincere  self-examination. 

Mr.  Hobart  was  made  deacon  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  White  in  Christ 
Church,  Philadelphia,  on  June  3,  1798.  He  immediately  took  charge 
of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  and  All  Saints',  Perkiomen.  Oxford  had 
been  founded  by  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  who,  renouncing  Quaker 
doctrine,  conformed  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  was  the  first  trav- 
elling missionary  of  the  \^enerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  to  report  upon  the  places  where  missions  could 
be  established  with  the  greatest  prospect  of  permanence.  There,  near 
the  city  of  his  birth,  the  young  deacon  lived,  studied,  and  worked. 
It  is  said  by  one  of  his  successors,  the  Rev.  George  Sheets,  that  the 

*  Schroeder's  Memoir,  p.  xxviii. 

L  cxiii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

church  was  crowded,  "his  pulpit  talents  greatly  esteemed,  and  his 
person  much  belo\ed." 

Like  other  country  parishes,  and  especially  \\  hen  two  neighlx)uring 
churches  are  united  under  one  minister,  there  was  much  visiting  to 
be  done  and  the  distances  were  long ;  consequently  Mr.  Hobart  found 
that,  owing  to  constant  visiting,  he  had  but  little  leisure  for  studv. 
It  was,  then,  a  serious  consideration  with  him,  ^\  hen  the  Re\ .  Dr. 
Magaw,  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia,  offered  him  the  position 
of  assistant  minister  in  that  parish,  whether  he  should  accept  it.  He 
finally  determined  to  remain  in  Oxford  for  the  period  he  had  prom- 
ised, but  he  was  not  willing  to  forego  his  plan  of  further  study.  He 
never  regarded  Oxford  as  a  permanent  home,  and  he  was  anxious 
to  secure  some  parish  near  Princeton  in  which  he  could  combine 
pastoral  work  with  further  study  at  the  college. 

It  was  on  May  4,  1799,  that  Mr.  Hobart  was  in\'ited  by  the  \estry 
of  Christ  Church,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  "to  perform  divine 
service  for  the  congregation  and  receive  for  it  the  sum  of  $266.67." 
Mr.  Hobart  had  come  to  that  town  with  letters  from  Bishop  White. 
In  the  one  to  Dr.  Beach,  the  venerable  assistant  rector  of  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  the  Bishop  said  that  his  young  friend  "had 
lately  entered  into  orders  in  our  Church  A\ith  the  general  expectation 
of  all  who  know  him  that  he  will  be  eminently  useful  in  it." 

Mr.  Hobart  fulh'  explained  to  the  \estrv  the  terms  upon  w  hich  he 
accepted  the  call:  "On  mv  first  introduction  there,  I  stated  to  indi- 
viduals, and  I  believe  it  was  generally  understood,  that  the  cause  of 
my  removal  from  the  churches  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  for 
which  I  was  first  ordained,  was,  that  I  could  not  look  on  them  as  a 
permanent  residence,  and  that  I  wished,  for  some  time  longer,  to  pur- 
sue my  studies  at  Princeton,  \\here  I  enjoyed  peculiar  ad\antages  of 
books,  of  retirement,  and  of  society.  It  was  in  the  pursuit  of  this 
plan,  that  I  proposed  the  temporary  supply  of  the  Church  here;  and 
the  manner  in  which  the  vestry  met  my  views  A\as  entirely  satisfac- 
tory, and  the  engagement  took  place,  for  a  supply  of  one  year." 
C  cxiv  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

He  fully  improved  his  leisure,  and  found  among  his  Princeton 
friends,  and  in  its  library,  solace,  comfort,  and  intellectual  strength, 
and  adding  to  his  store  of  knowledge  thus  prepared  himself  for  the 
future.  "He  officiated,"  says  Bishop  Croes,  "the  first  three  Sundays 
in  each  lunar  month ;  on  the  first  Sunday  twice,  on  the  other  two, 
only  once." 

The  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Lambert  Moore  on  February 
20,  1799,  left  the  pleasant  parish  of  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  va- 
cant. After  the  declination  of  Mr.  Moore's  brother,  the  Rev.  Rich- 
ard Channing  Moore,  afterward  Bishop  of  Virginia,  the  vestry  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  secure  a  rector.  The  Rev.  Elijah  D.  Rattoone, 
then  rector  of  Jamaica  and  Flushing,  was  considered,  but  preferred 
to  remain  in  his  parish. 

Mr.  Hobart  served  as  secretary  of  the  House  of  Bishops  at  its  ses- 
sions in  Philadelphia  from  June  11  to  June  19,  1799.  Through  the 
Rev.  Henry  Waddel  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  the  Hempstead  vestry 
learned  of  the  high  regard  of  Bishop  White  for  Mr.  Hobart.  Three 
months  after  accepting  the  call  to  New  Brunswick,  he  was  asked  to 
become  rector  of  St.  George's  Church,  Hempstead.  As  his  engage- 
ment at  New  Brunswick  Mas  for  a  whole  year,  he  did  not  feel  at  lib- 
erty to  break  it.  In  a  letter  to  the  \estry  of  New  Brunswick,  on  July 
15,  1799,  Mr.  Hobart  says:  "It  was  not  expected  by  me,  that  any 
permanent  settlement  A\ould  offer,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  under 
such  peculiar  circumstances  as  would  be  incompatible  with  the  fulfil- 
ment of  my  engagement.  About  six  weeks  ago,  I  was  urged  to  preach 
at  the  church  at  Hempstead,  where  I  accordingly  officiated,  and  spent 
some  days,  about  the  end  of  last  month.  Meetings  of  the  vestry  after- 
ward took  place ;  and  last  week,  Mr.  John  Moore,  one  of  them,  waited 
on  me  A\ith  the  enclosed  papers,  and  expressed  his  wish,  and  that  of 
the  vestry,  to  know  by  his  return  my  probable  determination.  Was  I 
not  connected  by  an  absolute  engagement  with  your  Church,  respect 
for  it,  and  sensibility  to  the  kindness  and  attention  I  have  received 
from  its  members,  would  lead  me  to  consult  them.  Under  these  cir- 
C  cxv  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

cumstances,  I  w  ish  to  state,  that  I  tliink  I  could  be  immediately  set- 
tled in  the  Church  at  Hempstead,  M'ith  such  peculiar  ad\antages,  as 
to  render  it  my  duty  to  accept  the  call.  The  congregation  is  large  and 
respectable,  supposed  to  consist  of  near  a  thousand  persons,  one  hun- 
dred of  whom  are  communicants ;  and  the  discharge  of  ministerial 
duty  among  them  is  connected  with  peculiar  circumstances  of  useful- 
ness and  satisfaction.  Their  situation  enables  them  to  secure  the  im- 
mediate services  of  several  clergymen,  on  some  of  whom  their  choice, 
they  state,  will  immediately  fall,  unless  it  will  be  in  my  po\ver  to  com- 
mence mj'  services  with  them,  in  the  course  of  a  few  months.  Thus 
circumstanced,  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  state  to  the  vestry  here, 
my  desire  that  they  would  release  me  from  my  temporary  engagement 
with  them  for  the  last  six  months,  to  enable  me  to  accept  a  perma- 
nent settlement,  which  as  fully  meets  my  particular  \'ievvs  as  I  can 
have  any  reason  to  expect.  I  think  it  proper  to  mention,  what  I  sup- 
pose, however,  would  not  be  doubted,  that  it  is  my  determination 
and  my  wish  to  fulfil,  to  the  best  of  my  abilities,  my  engagement 
with  the  Church  here,  unless  regularly  released  ihtYthom.  Mr.  Moore 
will  be  waiting  in  New-York  the  determination  of  the  vestry  on  this 
subject,  and  it  is  therefore  my  wish  to  convey  it  to  him  as  soon  as 
possible."* 

Upon  the  following  day,  houe\'er,  he  wrote  another  letter,  showing 
that  e\  en  as  a  young  man  he  could  control  his  impulsive  disposition  : 
"My  business  with  your  vestry  has  been  the  subject  of  my  serious 
reflections  since  I  left  you  ;  and  I  have  come  to  a  determination,  \\  hich, 
as  it  will  render  all  further  proceeding  unnecessary,  I  am  anxious  to 
communicate  as  soon  as  possible.  I  think  I  shall  not  be  satisfied,  in 
existing  circumstances,  to  receive  a  release  from  my  engagement  with 
your  Church,  and  I  must  therefore  beg  leave  to  withdraw  my  request 
for  it.  I  shall  accordingly  answer  the  call  of  the  Church  at  Hempstead, 
by  informing  them,  that  my  immediate  acceptance  of  it  is  incom- 
patible w  ith  my  engagements  and  dutj-  to  the  Church  at  Brunswick. 

*  Schroeder's  Memoir,  p.  xxxiv. 

I  cxvi  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

I  \\  ould  not  wish  it  to  be  understood,  that  my  determination  has  arisen 
from  any  \ie\v  to  a  permanent  settlement  at  Brunswick,  or  there  in 
union  with  any  other  place,  but  from  a  desire  to  secure  the  ease  of 
my  own  mind,  and  to  prevent  any  cause  of  censure,  by  the  complete 
discharge  of  my  engagements  with  your  Church.  And  so  fully  have 
I  made  up  my  mind,  that  I  ^\•ould  not  receive  a  release  from  my 
engagement,  were  it  to  be  offered  to  me.  Please  to  communicate  the 
contents  of  this  letter  to  the  vestry.  I  feel  myself  bound  to  apologize 
to  them  for  the  trouble  I  ha\e  gi\en  them,  and  to  you,  for  what  you 
have  voluntarily  undertaken."  * 

One  happy  result  of  his  residence  in  New  Brunswick  was  his  en- 
gagement to  Miss  Mary  Goodin  Chandler,  daughter  of  the  Re\-.  Dr. 
Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler  of  Elizabeth  Town,  a  pillar  of  the  colonial 
Church.  While  the  people  of  Hempstead  regretted  his  decision,  they 
asked  Mr.  Hobart  to  officiate  on  as  many  of  the  Sundays  w  hen  he 
was  at  leisure,  as  possible,  until  he  ^\  as  able  to  settle  in  Hempstead. 
In  June,  1800,  he  went  to  Hempstead  with  his  bride  —  for  he  was 
married  on  May  6,  1800  —  and  commenced  what  he  thought  A\ould 
be  a  long  pastorate.  His  salary  was  to  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
as  much  firewood  as  he  thought  necessary,  the  use  of  the  parsonage, 
and  a  suitable  barn,  which  was  to  be  built. 

His  reputation  was  growing,  for  he  was  offered  the  rectorship  of 
St.  Mark's  Church  in  the  Bowery,  New  York  City,  on  August  27, 
1800.  The  letter  of  declination  dated  October  6,  1800,  will  be  found 
in  the  Correspondence.  In  his  new  work  he  showed  the  same  care 
as  before,  and  he  found  in  the  people,  friends  generous  and  sympa- 
thetic . 

The  enlargement  of  the  work  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City, 
made  it  important  that  there  should  be  additional  assistant  ministers. 
On  September  8,  1800,  Mr.  Hobart  was  called  to  be  an  assistant 
minister,  at  a  salary  of  fi\e  hundred  pounds  a  year.  He  wrote  finally 
to  Dr.  Charlton,  the  senior  warden: 

*  Schroeder's  Memoir,  p.  xxxvi. 

C  cxvii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Dr.  John  Char:.ton: 

Sir — I  take  the  liberty  of  informing  you,  as  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee who  presented  to  me  the  call  from  the  A'estr}-  of  Trinity  Church 
to  the  office  of  an  Assistant  Minister,  that  I  accept  the  said  office  on 
the  terms  stated  in  the  said  call.  The  congregation  with  which  I  am 
at  present  connected  have  exerted  themsehes  so  much  as  to  render 
my  situation  comfortable  and  happy,  and  I  think  I  cannot  with  deli- 
cacy and  propriety  lea\e  them  before  the  spring,  unless  the)-  should 
signify  to  me  that  they  ha\  e  chosen  another  minister,  and  are  willing 
to  dispense  w  ith  my  ser\ices. 

Permit  me,  through  you,  sir,  to  express  to  the  Vestry  my  sensibil- 
ity to  the  polite  and  honourable  manner  in  which  this  business  has 
been  conducted.  The  best  evidence  that  I  can  give  of  my  feelings, 
will  be  an  endeavour  to  act  in  all  cases  with  fidelity  and  independence, 
governed  only  by  a  sincere  regard  to  the  sacred  dictates  of  conscience 
and  dut_\-.  The  station  would  require  the  judgement  and  experience 
of  more  ad\anced  years.  I  shall  have  therefore  a  peculiar  claim  on  the 
friendship  and  counsel  of  the  Vestr_v,  on  the  candour  and  support  of 
the  congregation,  and  on  the  affectionate  advice  and  aid  of  my  supe- 
riors and  brethren  in  the  ministry.  Thus  strengthened  and  supported 
while  I  endeavour  faithfully  to  discharge  m_v  dutj-,  I  trust  that  I  may 
hope  for  the  presence  and  blessing  of  Almightj'  God. 

With  sentiments  of  sincere  respect  for  j-ourself  and  the  committee, 
and  for  the  Rector  and  A'estry  of  the  Church, 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  obed't  servant, 

John  Henry  Hobart 
Dr.  Charlton 

Reluctantly  and  with  a  Christian  courtes}'  as  rare  as  it  is  commend- 
able, the  vestry  of  St.  George's  released  him.  Mr.  Hobart  had  no\\' 
found  his  true  place.  He  entered  upon  his  work  in  New  York  with 
humble  diffidence,  but  M'ith  his  heart  aflame  for  the  advancement  of 
the  Church  of  God.  Bishop  Pro\'oost  had  retired  from  active  work  in 
[  cxviii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  parish  and  in  the  diocese,  and  Dr.  Moore  was  reorganizing  the 
parish. 

In  a  passing  mood  of  seIf-retros])ection,  Mr.  Hobart  writes  his  earli- 
est impressions  of  the  new  work,  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Mercer: 

New-York,  March  i8th,  i8oi. 

My  long  silence  is  indeed  without  excuse.  It  would  be  folly  in  me 
to  pretend  that  engagements  have  prevented  me  from  writing  to  you , 
though  these,  from  my  change  of  residence,  have  been  numerous. 
My  mind,  however,  has  generally  been  so  depressed  that  I  ha\e  not 
had  the  resolution  to  take  up  my  pen.  Though  I  ha\e  not  lateh*  had 
those  fits  of  melancholy  to  w  hich  I  was  formerh'  subject,  yet  I  seem 
to  be  the  \  ictim  of  a  languor  that  indisposes  and  disqualifies  me  for 
exertion.  This  state  of  my  mind  I  attribute  partly  to  constitutional 
malady,  but  particularly  to  ni}'  ha\  ing  been  of  late  hun-ied  through 
scenes  so  novel,  and  so  wholly  opposed  to  my  former  sentiments, 
habits,  and  pursuits.  From  a  wise  law  of  nature,  however,  which 
gradually  bends  the  mind  to  the  circumstances  in  which  it  is  placed, 
I  am  becoming  more  reconciled  to  my  situation  ;  and  I  am  awakened 
from  this  fatal  torpor,  by  the  reflection  that  I  am  sacrificing  to  it  the 
highest  duties  and  enjoyments  of  life.  I  moved  to  town  last  Decem- 
ber, at  which  time  I  entered  on  the  duties  of  my  office  as  one  of  the 
assistant  ministers  of  Trinity  Church.  I  find  enough  to  occupy  my 
thoughts  and  my  time.  I  have  so  many  interruptions,  and  so  many 
engagements,  that  my  mind  and  feelings  become  relaxed  and  dissi- 
pated. I  am  endeavouring  to  introduce  order  and  energy  into  mj-  stud- 
ies and  duties,  which  will,  no  doubt,  ha%e  a  favourable  effect  on  my 
mind.  I  can,  however,  never  like  a  city.  I  pant  for  the  enjoyments  of 
the  country,  and  still  indulge  the  hope  of  being  one  day  able  to  realize 
a  plan  of  happiness  somewhat  like  my  wishes.  Who  is  there  that  does 
not  indidge  this  hope?  Yet  do  not  suppose  that  I  am  unhappy  ;  from 
the  loftv  regions  of  inexperienced  fancy,  in  which  we  often  soared, 
I  have  sunk  down  to  the  plain,  but  perhaps  more  valuable  enjovments 
C  cxix  '] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

of  common  life.  Except  when  under  the  uncontrollable  influence  of 
constitutional  melancholy,  I  can  generally  find  happiness  in  the  en- 
dearments and  duties  of  domestic  life — in  the  enli\ening  hopes  of 
friendship  —  in  plans  of  literary  impro\ement  and  professional  duty; 
and  if  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  can  say,  that  regarding  this  A\orld  as 
the  scene  of  much  vice  and  misery  and  containing  no  bliss  but  what 
Mill  be  infinitelv  exalted  in  that  which  is  to  come,  I  cherish  ah\ a_vs 
with  pleasure,  and  sometimes  \\ ith  triumph,  the  prospect  of  lea\ing 
it,  and  entering  on  the  perfection  and  unutterable  happiness  of  my 
e\erlasting  existence. 

J.    H.    HoBART* 

It  is  not  the  intention  of  this  sketch  to  follow  minutely  the  wonder- 
ful development  of  the  joung  deacon  \\hen  plunged  into  the  mani- 
fold and  pressing  \\ork  of  a  large  parish.  He  soon  gave  e\  idence  of 
that  extraordinary  energ)-,  that  clear  insight,  which  made  him  rap- 
idlj'  win  the  respect,  admiration,  and  affection  of  the  whole  city.  He 
was  ordained  priest  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Pro\oost  on  April  5,  1801. 
Curiously  enough,  the  call  to  Mr.  Hoi^art  had  to  be  renew  ed,  as  the 
charter  required  that  assistant  ministers  should  be  in  priest's  orders. 
This  was  done  by  a  resolution  of  the  vestry  on  April  12,  1802. 

Whether  he  suggested  the  formation  of  a  society  to  aid  young  men 
stud3ing  for  the  holy  ministry  or  not,  he  was  one  of  the  incorpora- 
tors of  the  Society  for  promoting  Religion  and  Learning,  organized 
on  August  16,  1802,  and  ever  watchful  of  its  interests.  His  literary 
activity  began  with  the  republication  of  Stephen's  "Treatise  on  the 
Natureand  Constitution  of  the  Christian  Church,"  which  was  adapted 
by  him  for  the  use  of  the  voung  in  the  countrj-,  and  published  anony- 
mously in  1803.  The  first  work  to  appear  with  his  own  name  \vas 
"A  Companion  for  the  Altar,"  in  1804,  which  was  extensively  used 
for  years.  From  this  time  till  his  death  his  pen  was  never  idle.f 

*  McVickar's  Professional  Tears,  p.  i8o. 

■f  For  a  full  list  of  Bishop  Hobart's  works,  see  page  ccv. 

C  cxx  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

The  \er\-  great  lack  of  any  instruction  for  those  seeking  holy  orders 
made  him  form  a  class  in  1806,  into  which  se\eral  young  men  after- 
ward distinguished  were  gathered.  The  method  of  instruction  is 
thus  described  by  a  member  :  ' '  The  objects  of  this  association,  which 
was  styled  'The  Protestant  Episcopal  Theological  Society,'  were  the 
advancement  of  its  members  in  theological  knowledge,  in  practi- 
cal pietv,  and  in  all  those  principles,  duties,  and  dispositions,  \\  hich 
w  ould  fit  them  for  being  orthodox,  e\  angelical,  and  faithful  ministers 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  business  of  e^ery  meeting, 
which  was  held  weekly,  was  opened  by  the  presiding  clergj-man 
with  an  office  of  devotion  prepared  for  the  purpose.  A  sermon,  or  por- 
tion of  a  sermon,  from  some  appro\ed  author,  was  then  read  by  one 
of  the  members  with  a  \  iew  to  improvement  in  emphasis,  accent, 
and  general  propriety.  Afterwards  a  portion  ^\  as  read  by  another,  of 
some  treatise  on  the  e\idences  of  Christianity,  the  Constitution  of 
the  Christian  Church,  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  or  of  any  work 
which  from  time  to  time  might  be  appointed  by  the  presiding  clergy- 
man, with  the  approbation  of  the  Bishop.  In  regard  to  this  passage, 
it  w  as  expected  that  e\  ery  member  should  be  ready  to  answer  any 
questions  that  might  be  proposed  to  him.  The  third  exercise  was  the 
reading,  by  a  different  member,  of  an  essay  on  some  religious  topic, 
or  a  sermon  of  his  own  composition;  and  this  was  to  be  delivered 
memoriter  at  the  ensuing  meeting,  or  an  extract  from  some  other 
sermon  or  essay  that  might  be  appointed.  It  was  the  duty  of  the 
clergyman  who  presided,  after  the  performance  of  this  exercise,  to 
call  upon  the  members  present  for  their  remarks  on  the  pronuncia- 
tion, emphasis,  style,  and  delivery,  and  to  sum  up  the  whole  with  his 
own. 

"Questions  on  theological  topics  were  then  to  be  proposed  by  the 
members,  and  the  president  was  to  choose  one  of  these,  or  such  other 
as  he  might  think  proper,  and  appoint  four  to  discuss  it  at  the  fol- 
lowing meeting.  This  discussion  was  to  take  place  in  the  absence 
of  the  clergyman,  but  no  decision  to  be  made  on  the  question;  and 
[  cxxi  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

at  a  subsequent  meeting,  the  next  one  w  ho  should  preside  was  also 
to  deliver  his  sentiments  concerning  it,  for  the  information  of  the 
members.  This  part  of  the  business  of  the  meeting  was  closed  wnh 
prayer. 

"There  was  also  one  other  general  proA'ision,  too  important  and 
interesting  to  be  passed  o\er  without  notice. 

"It  was  made  the  duty  of  the  clergymen  who  presided  successi\  ely 
at  the  meeting  of  the  society,  from  time  to  time,  'to  impress  on  the 
members  the  usefulness,  the  dignity,  and  the  high  consolations  and 
rewards  of  the  Christian  ministry;  to  enforce  the  necessity  and  duty 
of  acting  at  all  times  \\  ith  that  circumspection  and  propriety  w  hich 
were  demanded  equally  by  their  Christian  obligations,  and  by  the  sa- 
cred profession  which  it  was  their  intention  to  assume;  to  urge  them 
to  acquire  and  to  cherish  a  practical  view  of  the  exalted  plan  of  sal- 
vation through  Jesus  Christ,  its  conditions,  its  aids,  and  rewards, 
in  order  that  they  might  be  fitted  in  after  life  for  proclaiming  and 
enforcing  them  with  suitable  fidelity  and  zeal ;  to  explain  to  them 
the  excellence  of  that  Apostolic  and  Primitive  Church  to  which  they 
had  the  happiness  to  belong;  and  abo\e  all,  to  impress  on  them  that, 
as  they  could  hope  for  sahation  only  through  the  merits  of  their  Lord 
and  Redeemer  Jesus  Christ,  they  should  be  frequent  and  earnest  in 
invoking  the  grace  of  God  to  enlighten  and  purify  their  hearts,  to 
strengthen  them  against  the  temptations  of  the  world,  and  to  enable 
them  to  discharge  the  public  duties  of  the  ministry  as  well  as  the 
private  duties  of  the  Christian  life.' 

"The  constitution,  containing  the  provision  for  these  useful  exer- 
cises, and  for  the  general  regulation  and  government  of  the  society, 
was  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Hobart;  and  the  prescribed  forms  of  devotion 
which  he  compiled  and  composed,  were  so  beautiful,  appropriate, 
and  impressive,  that,  as  they  were  ne\er  joined  in  without  emotion, 
so  I  think  they  cannot  be  read  without  admiration. 

"Ha\ing  been  a  member  of  this  society  myself  for  many  years,  it 

may  be  that  the  sacred  recollection  of  them,  now  doubly  hallowed  by 

£_  cxxii  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

their  association  with  my  departed  friend,  in\ests  them  with  an  inter- 
est which  they  ma}-  not  in  realit}-  possess."  * 

The  bold  and  outspoken  manner  in  w  hich  Mr.  Hobart  withstood 
attacks  upon  the  faith  and  polity  of  the  Church  is  shown  in  the  course 
of  his  correspondence,  and  needs  here  only  this  mention.  Some  of  his 
\  ery  best  literary  and  theological  work  was  done  in  these  controv  er- 
sial  writings.  Jealous  for  the  integrity  of  the  Church  and  its  exten- 
sion, he  saw  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  a  powerful  missionary 
agent.  His  connection  with  the  founding  of  the  New  York  Bible  and 
Common  Prayer  Book  Society  in  1809  is  a  matter  of  record.  He  wrote 
the  address  which  announced  its  foundation,  and  asked  Churchmen 
to  join  it. 

After  filling  several  diocesan  offices,  as  secretary  of  the  Con\'ention 
and  member  of  the  Standing  Committee,  there  came  to  him  the  call  to 
the  episcopate .  In  the  spring  of  1 8 1 1 ,  as  Bishop  Moore  was  so  se\  erely 
paralyzed  that  he  could  no  longer  attend  to  any  duty,  under  his 
direction,  Dr.  Hobart,  as  secretary,  March  21,  1811,  called  a  special 
convention,  "to  meet  in  the  city  of  New-  York  on  the  second  Tuesday 
in  May  next."  When  this  convention  assembled.  Dr.  Hobart  was 
elected  Bishop  bv  a  decisi\e  majority.  To  some  this  was  a  very  severe 
grievance,  for  they  thought  him  proud,  haughty,  overbearing,  fond 
of  power,  and  ambitious.  The  bitter  personal  attack  in  his  "Solemn 
Appeal"  by  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones  aroused  a  controversy  and  excited 
men's  passions  in  a  way  before  unknown  in  the  Church. f 

The  consecration  took  place  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City, 
May  29,  1811.  It  had  been  expected  that  it  would  be  in  New  Haven, 
during  the  sessions  of  the  General  Convention,  which  were  held  from 
May  21  to  May  24,  but  there  were  only  two  Bishops  in  attendance. 
Bishop  White  and  Bishop  Jarvis.  Bishop  Claggett  had  set  out,  but 
was  obliged  to  return  on  account  of  sickness.  Bishop  Madison,  consid- 
ering his  duty  to  the  College  of  William  and  Mary  paramount,  would 

*  Berrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  1 1 1. 

fA  sketch  of  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones  will  be  found  later  on  in  connexion  with  his  letters. 

[^  cxxiii  ~} 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

not  attend.  There  were  gloomy  forebodings  in  the  hearts  and  minds 
of  many  sincere  Churchmen  as  to  the  future  of  the  Church.  But  tlie 
two  Bishops  elect,  >Ir.  Gris\\old  for  the  confederation  known  as  the 
Eastern  Diocese  and  Dr.  Hobart,  did  not  share  them.  The  story  has 
often  been  told  that  when  the  two  Bishops  came  to  New  York  with 
those  awaiting  consecration,  they  had  found  Bishop  Provoost,  w  ho 
had  promised  to  take  part  if  physically  able,  just  reco\ering  from  an 
attack  of  jaundice. 

When  the  day  and  hour  arrived  for  the  consecration,  the  vast  con- 
gregation assembled  in  Trinity  Church  were  in  a  state  of  nervous  sus- 
pense as  to  whether  Bishop  Provoost  would  really  be  on  hand.  The 
service  had  actually  commenced  before  his  arrival.  At  last  the  news 
spread  through  the  congregation  that  he  had  entered  the  vestry-room. 
Audible  thanksgivings  ran  through  the  assemblage.  "He's  come! 
He's  come!  Thank  God  !  "  was  echoed  throughout  the  church.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Bishop  White.  In  closing,  he  made  a  touch- 
ing allusion  to  those  about  to  be  consecrated,  particularly  Dr.  Hobart. 
Bishop  White  was  consecrator,  assisted  by  Dr.  Pro\'oost,  the  retired 
Bishop  of  New  York,  and  Dr.  JarAis,  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut.  The 
e\'ent  of  that  day  is  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Church  in  Amer- 
ica. The  danger-mark  was  passed.  The  two  men  went  forth  to  their 
appointed  fields  to  be  shepherds  of  the  flock  of  Christ.  Differing  in 
temperament,  they  were  one  in  de\otion,  and  their  perse\erance  and 
labours  revi\'ed  the  Church. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  detail  here  the  manifold  and  vast  burdens  which 
came  upon  the  youthful  assistant  Bishop.  He  was  everywhere,  find- 
ing out  what  was  required  and  seeing  that  it  was  done.  His  visita- 
tions were  marvellous  in  their  extent  and  in  the  numbers  confirmed. 
His  genial,  fervent  manner,  his  sympathetic  interest  in  all  that  con- 
cerned the  clergy  of  his  diocese,  made  him  A\elcome  everywhere.  On 
one  occasion  while  visiting  in  a  coimtrv  parish,  the  clergyman  sho\\ed 
him  how  he  had  planted  shrubbery  and  made  a  garden  ;  not  knowing 
the  Bishop's  fondness  for  flowers  and  trees,  he  said  enthusiastically, 
[^  cxxiv  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

"Oh,  Bishop,  with  twenty  dollars  I  could  make  this  a  paradise!" 
In  his  pleasant  way  the  Bishop  said,  "Could  you  make  it  one,  the 
money 's  yours,"  and  pro\  ided  it.  Such  an  incident  shows  a  man  who 
is  ready  to  sympathize  and  make  his  sympathy  effective. 

A  plan  for  the  better  training  of  candidates  for  holy  orders  was  much 
in  the  thought  of  Bishop  Hobart.  His  class  had  proved  useful,  but 
students  from  other  dioceses  needed  a  place  where  they  could  study 
under  proper  instructors.  It  was  with  this  intent  that  in  1814  he  pro- 
posed the  establishment  of  a  Grammar  School  for  the  training  of  can- 
didates. It  was  to  be  located  upon  an  estate  in  the  town  of  Spring- 
field, New  Jersey,  which  he  had  purchased  many  years  before  and 
named  the  Short  Hills.  In  connection  with  it  there  would  ultimately 
be  a  theological  seminary .  The  Bishop  of  New  York  w  as  to  be  presi- 
dent, and  the  Bishop  of  New  Jersey,  vice-president.  It  was  his  in- 
tention to  gi\e  to  the  school  a  great  portion  of  his  time.  Others  also 
were  thinking  of  better  theological  education. 

When,  at  the  General  Convention  of  1814,  the  establishment  of  a 
General  Theological  Seminary  was  proposed,  Bishop  Hobart  and  the 
deputation  from  New  York  opposed  it.  In  considering  the  charge  of 
inconsistency  brought  against  the  Bishop,  Dr.  McVickar  comments 
on  the  uncompromising  attitude  he  presented  to  all  Christian  truth, 
and  the  debt  the  whole  Church  of  Christ  ' '  owes  to  him  who  stood 
fearlessly  in  the  gap  and  fought  'a  good  fight'  against  that  insidious 
enemy  who  was  for  changing  the  Gospel  Banner  from  truth,  to — 
LIBERALITY,"  and  thcu  says:  "This  uncompromising  tone  was  in 
him  a  Christian,  not  a  sectarian  spirit,  and  they  who  deemed  it  such, 
still  more,  they  who  inveighed  against  it  as  such,  and  would  have 
held  him  up  to  odium  for  maintaining  it,  do  now  owe  to  him,  yea, 
rather  to  themselves,  an  'honourable  amend'  for  such  misconstruc- 
tion. 

"This  exposition  of  the  principle  on  which  he  went  bears  upon  the 
whole  tenour  of  his  life ;  it  is  referred  to  here  in  order  to  account  for 
what  would  otherwise  appear  a  striking  inconsistency  in  his  course, 
[^  cxxv  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

in  the  General  Convention  of  this  }ear,  in  relation  to  the  proposi- 
tion of  a  Theological  Seminary  under  its  control.  After  urging  for 
years,  by  every  means,  the  establishment  of  such  an  institution  for 
the  Church,  when  the  very  measure  itself  was  moved  in  the  General 
Convention,  he  opposed  it.  How  can  this  be  explained? 

"  'It  is  proper,'  said  he,  in  reporting  those  proceedings  to  the  State 
Convention  of  this  year,  '  that  on  the  subject  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
General  Convention  I  should  remark,  that  the  opposition  from  the 
deputation  of  the  Church  in  New-York  to  the  establishment  of  a  gen- 
eral theological  seminary,  by  an  act  of  that  body,  did  not  arise  from 
disaffection  to  a  measure  of  vital  importance  to  the  Churcli,  but  from 
an  opinion  that  the  same  object  could  be  accomplished  on  the  most 
correct  and  enlarged  principles  and  vie\\s,  by  private  concert  and  co- 
operation among  the  influential  friends  of  the  Church  in  various  parts 
of  the  Union,  without  encountering  many  difficulties  to  M'hich  the 
measure  would  be  liable,  if  taken  up  under  present  circumstances  by 
the  General  Convention.  At  the  next  meeting  of  that  body  they  will 
doubtless  be  in  possession  of  such  facts  as  will  enable  them  to  come 
to  a  decision  on  this  important  subject.' 

The  objection  here  hinted  at  is  easil)-  made  clear :  he  feared,  in  the 
then  state  of  the  Church,  compromitting  its  principles  by  putting 
the  control  of  an  institution,  that  was  to  give  tone  to  its  doctrines 
and  discipline,  into  the  hands  of  the  General  Contention.  He  deemed 
it  safer,  and  therefore  wiser,  to  pursue  the  object  for  a  time,  where 
there  would  be  imity  of  counsel,  and  greater  security  for  sound  teach- 
ing. On  this  point,  his  letter  introducing  Dr.  Moore  to  his  friend 
in  Virginia  may  be  referred  to  in  further  explanation.  This  was  his 
motive;  for  in  after -years,  when  he  esteemed  those  dangers  compara- 
tively past,  he  then  tmited  in  placing  the  seminary  actuallij,  where, 
theoretically y  he  had  alwa}s  thought  that  it  should  be,  provided  that 
it  could  be  safely  done,  tmder  the  control  of  the  general  authorities 
of  the  Church. 

' '  This  course  of  Bishop  Hobart's  was  then,  and  has  often  been  since 
C  cxxvl  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

charged  with  inconsistency ;  it  is  such  inconsistency  as  is  chargeable 
upon  the  sagacious  pilot,  who  varies  his  course  to  avoid  the  rocks  that 
lie  in  it.  It  is  the  end  aimed  at  wherein  the  wise  and  good  mind  is  to 
be  tested,  all  else,  within  the  limits  of  Christian  probity,  is  a  ques- 
tion of  prudence  and  expediency;  and  he  is  the  wisest  ruler,  and  the 
safest  pilot,  who  is  wary  as  to  his  course,  and  inflexible  only  as  to 
'the  haven  where  he  would  be.'  "* 

Bishop  Hobart  constantly  and  persistently  upheld  the  necessity  of 
standing  firmlv  by  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  Church  as  found 
in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  In  18 15  he  issued  one  of  his  \  erv  best 
pastoral  letters  on  this  subject,  which  was  answered  by  "A  Church- 
man," who  laid  stress  upon  evangelical  principles  and  claimed  that 
"the  Bible  and  the  Bible  only  was  the  religion  of  Protestants."  It 
was  soon  after  that  the  American  Bible  Society  was  formed.  Bishop 
Hobart  thought  it  his  duty  to  raise  against  it  a  protest  by  the  issue 
of  "An  Address  to  Episcopalians,"  which  was  published  on  May  11, 
1816,  the  very  day  when  the  officers  of  the  new  society  were  elected .  He 
reiterates  and  reinforces  the  arguments  of  his  pastoral,  and  examines 
the  alleged  necessity  for  a  new  society,  which  to  him  seems  to  be 
closely  allied  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbvterian  Church. 
He  then  asks  Churchmen  to  remember  that  their  patronage  and  their 
wealth  should  be  gi\  en  to  the  societies  formed  in  their  ow  n  Chtirch, 
as  the  Auxiliary  New  York  Bible  and  Common  Praver  Book  Society, 
and  the  New  York  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Society,  which 
circulated  both  the  Holy  Bible  and  the  Prayer  Book. 

A  sharp  and  somewhat  bitter  controversv  followed,  the  Bishop's 
chief  opponent  being  the  Hon.  William  Jay,  a  son  of  Judge  John  Jay. 
The  Bishop  maintained  his  ground  and  convinced  many  of  the  sound- 
ness of  his  arguments.  Dr.  Berrian  remarks  upon  this  subject:  "The 
effect  of  them  was  very  soon  perceived  in  our  own  Church,  and  a 
change  has  since  taken  place  in  the  opinions  of  many  in  other  de- 
nominations, which  forms  a  strong  presumption  in  fa\our  of  their 

*  McVickar's  Professional  Tears,  p.  349. 

[^  cxxvii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

justness  and  triitli.  Whether  it  be  from  the  overw  hehning  ascendency 
w  hich  Bishop  Hobart  predicted  would  be  gained  by  some  large  so- 
ciety over  every  other,  or  from  the  want  of  harmony  in  carrying  on 
their  operations  together,  or  from  the  discovery,  that  the  Hberal  in- 
difference arising  out  of  general  efforts  was  paralvzing  their  zeal  for 
their  peculiar  principles,  it  is  with  good  reason  belie\ed,  that,  in  two 
respectable  bodies  of  Christians  at  least,  there  has  been  a  great  abate- 
ment of  interest  in  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  a  growing  dis- 
like to  all  similar  associations  for  religious  purposes. 

"But  it  was  particularly  gratifying  to  Bishop  Hobart  to  perceive 
the  favourable  influence  which  these  publications  were  exerting  o\  er 
the  minds  of  Episcopalians,  leading  some  to  reflect  on  the  injurious 
tendency  of  general  societies  to  the  interests  of  the  Church,  directing 
the  bounty  of  others  into  its  proper  channels,  and  rousing  many  w  ho 
had  hitherto  been  indifferent,  to  acti\'e  and  zealous  exertions  in  behalf 
of  our  o\\  n  institutions.  Several  Auxiliary  Bible  and  Common  Prayer 
Book  Societies  were  immediately  formed  in  \arious  parts  of  the  state; 
in  the  institution  of  which  manj'  of  the  distinguished  laymen  of  our 
Church  co-operated  with  the  clergy.  He  encouraged  others  to  an  imi- 
tation of  their  example,  by  noticing  the  fact  with  marked  approbation 
in  his  address  to  the  Convention.  He  enforced  the  reasonings  of  his 
Pastoral  Letter  and  Address  in  pri\  ate  communications  to  those  per- 
sons from  whose  discriminating  minds  and  sound  principle  he  might 
look  for  a  correct  decision,  and  from  Avhose  personal  attachment  he 
might  hope  for  countenance  and  support.  Nor  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  people  did  he  suffer  the  \\  ork  to  rest,  but  by  argument,  persuasion, 
and  all  the  just  influence  of  his  station,  urged  it  on  with  diligence 
and  success, 

"The  effects  of  these  publications  extended  also  bej-ond  the  imme- 
diate object  for  which  thev  \\'ere  a\  ritten.  As  the  general  principles 
which  thej-  contained  were  alike  applicable  to  all  associations  with 
other  denominations  for  any  common  purpose ;  so  the  tendency  of  them 
was  to  restrain  Churchmen  from  this  amalgamation  in  e\  ery  case, 
[]  cxxviii  3 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

and  to  u  ithdra\\'  them  from  such  a  connection  where  it  had  already 
been  formed.  The  operation  of  them,  in  both  respects,  though  gradual, 
was  plainly  perceived  in  the  more  w  holesome  tone  of  public  sentiment 
among  our  people,  and  in  a  greater  degree  of  union  in  their  eftbrts  for 
our  own  institutions."  * 

Upon  the  death  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Moore,  February  27,  1816, 
Dr.  Hobart  became  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  and  rector  of  Trinitv 
Church,  New  York,  ^^'hile  there  was  added  responsibilit}-,  there  was 
little  increase  of  duty,  for  the  whole  charge  of  the  diocese  had  been 
upon  him  since  his  consecration.  His  address  at  the  funeral  of  Bishop 
Moore  contains  an  instructi\e  appendix  upon  the  intermediate  state 
which  gi\  es  it  special  distinction  and  permanent  interest. 

The  vacancy  in  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut  bv  the  death  of  Bishop 
Jarvis  in  1813,  made  it  necessary  to  ask  the  assistance  of  neighbour- 
ing bishops.  Upon  June  6,  1816,  the  Con\  en tion  of  the  diocese  placed 
it  under  the  care  of  Bishop  Hobart  in  accordance  with  Canon  20.  His 
work  extended  o\  er  three  years  and  was  highly  acceptable.  It  termi- 
nated w  ith  the  election  and  consecration  of  Dr.  Brow  nell  as  Bishop 
in  October,  1819. 

By  the  General  Convention  of  1817,  a  General  Theological  Semi- 
nary was  established.  When  funds  had  been  solicited  from  e\ery 
part  of  the  Church,  and  there  was  a  prospect  of  a  sufficient  sum  in 
the  treasury  to  pay  the  salaries  of  two  professors,  the  institution  was 
quietly  opened  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  May  1,  1819.  It  recei\ed 
a  scant  welcome  from  the  Bishop  and  Churchmen  of  the  citv.  So  dif- 
ficult and  serious  became  the  situation,  and  so  few  were  the  students, 
that  the  General  Con\ention  of  1820  determined  that  it  should  be  re- 
moved to  New  Ha^■en,  Connecticut.  This  left  Bishop  Hobart  free  to 
carry  out  his  design  for  a  diocesan  school.  In  a  pastoral  letter  he  urged 
the  formation  of  a  "Protestant  Episcopal  Education  Society,"  which 
was  organized  in  October,  1820,  bv  the  Con\ention  of  the  diocese. 

In  obtaining  money  for  the  proposed  school.  Bishop  Hobart  showed 

*  Berrlan's  Memoir,  p.  178. 

[  cxxix  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

more  than  his  usual  energy.  He  \\as  \ery  successful,  for  not  only 
were  abundant  means  secured,  but  Dr.  Clement  C.  Moore  offered, 
from  his  Chelsea  estate,  a  plot  containing  sixty  lots  as  a  suitable  site 
for  the  buildings.  In  addition  to  the  New  Yorlc  School,  there  was  to 
be  a  branch  at  Gene\a  for  students  from  the  western  part  of  the 
state,  to  be  known  as  the  Interior  School.  With  his  acute  and  sound 
discernment  of  men,  he  selected  for  both  schools,  as  professors,  those 
who  could  not  only  thoroughly  teach  the  subjects  assigned  them, 
but  also  have  a  good  influence  o\er  the  young  men.  In  May,  1821, 
the  New  York  School  w  as  opened,  and  soon  after  the  Interior  School. 
The  career  of  the  institution  A\as  short. 

The  death  in  March,  1821,  of  Mr.  Jacob  Sherred,  a  vestryman  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  caused  a  discussion  between  the 
trustees  of  the  General  Seminary  and  the  Diocesan  Seminary.  By 
his  will  Mr.  Sherred  had  left  a  legacy  of  about  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars to  a  seminary  to  be  established  in  New  York  by  the  General 
or  Diocesan  Convention  for  the  education  of  joung  men  designed 
for  holy  orders  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America.  Legal  opinions  w  ere  sought  and  obtained  by  each 
board  from  men  eminent  in  the  profession.  As  the  matter  seemed 
of  the  very  utmost  importance  to  the  whole  Church,  the  presiding 
bishop  was  requested  to  call  a  special  session  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, which  accordingly  met  in  Philadelphia  on  October  30, 1821. 

The  result  is  well  told  by  the  Bishop's  friend  and  biographer,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Berrian :  "From  the  great  respectability  and  importance 
of  the  State  of  New-York,  and  the  increasing  number  and  resources 
of  the  Episcopalians  in  it.  Bishop  Hobart  had  before  been  strongly 
disposed  to  favour  the  establishment  of  a  diocesan  seminary.  The 
munificent  bequest  of  Mr.  Sherred,  together  with  the  valuable  grant 
of  land  from  Mr.  Clement  C.  Moore,  which  afforded  a  beautiful 
and  convenient  site  for  the  institution,  rendered  this  at  once  a  prac- 
ticable scheme.  A  regard  to  the  promotion  of  those  sound  principles 
which  he  considered  as  \itally  connected  with  the  best  interests  of 
[^  cxxx  3 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

our  Church,  increased  his  anxiety  for  this  arrangement.  But  still,  from 
a  spirit  of  conciliation,  he  was  willing  to  g'ne  up  the  unri\ ailed  ad- 
vantages which,  through  the  good  providence  of  God,  our  own  dio- 
cese enjoyed,  and  to  share  them  with  the  Church  at  large.  The  con- 
stitution of  the  General  Seminary  was  accordingly  re-organized  in 
such  a  way  as  to  gi\ e  a  just  degree  of  influence  and  control  to  the 
several  dioceses;  and  the  institution  was  transferred  from  Connecti- 
cut to  New-York.  The  magnanimity  of  his  conduct  on  this  occasion 
has  never  perhaps  been  duly  appreciated  by  those  w  ho  differed  from 
him  in  their  Aiews,  w  hile  the  policy  of  it  was  doubted  by  some  of  his 
friends.  From  the  profound  respect  which  \\as  entertained  for  him 
bv  most  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  his  own  diocese,  from  their  gen- 
eral accordance  w  ith  his  opinions,  or  their  readiness  to  acquiesce  in 
his  wishes,  an  institution  of  our  own  would  have  been  in  a  great 
measure  subject  to  his  control.  The  appointments  would  have  been 
made  with  an  exclusive  \iew  to  the  support  of  the  principles  and 
policy  which  it  had  been  the  ruling  aim  of  his  life  to  promote — to  the 
inviolable  union  of  e^•angelical  truth  and  apostolic  order.  But  though 
in  the  new  arrangements  great  influence  was  given  to  the  Diocese 
of  New-York  in  the  management  of  the  General  Seminary,  yet,  if 
Bishop  Hobart  had  attempted  to  act  as  he  undoubtedly  would  ha\  e 
done  in  a  diocesan  seminary,  it  would  soon  have  been  seen  that  this 
influence  was  altogether  impotent.  The  whole  plan  was  formed  in 
a  spirit  of  compromise.  There  might  be  opposition  to  his  \  iews  in  the 
board  of  trustees,  which  he  could  not  control.  There  might  be  reserve 
and  silence  in  the  faculty  on  points  which  he  himself  would  have 
loudlv  proclaimed.  He  had  gi\en  up  what  he  might  easily  ha\e  re- 
tained, and  never  did  any  man  make  a  greater  sacrifice  of  his  private 
feelings  and  wishes  for  the  sake  of  general  harmony  and  peace."* 
In  his  relations  with  Columbia  College,  although  younger  than  many 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  he  was  the  equal  of  any,  and  had  a  pre- 
ponderating influence. 

*Berrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  2+9. 

Q  cxxxi  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Dr.  McVickar  says:  "Dr.  Mason,  at  the  Board,  was  essentially 
a  talking  man ;  Bishop  Hobart  a  xvorking  man,  and  it  will  generally 
be  found  that  in  all  collective  or  deliberati\e  bodies,  the  first  rules  only 
until  the  second  appears;  men  listen  to  the  one  and  follow  the  other; 
the  moral  energy  of  action,  in  the  long  run,  rules  men's  minds  far 
beyond  the  intellectual  energy  of  reasoning.  This  was  the  basis  of 
Bishop  Hobart's  influence.  It  was  not  his  skill  in  debate,  but  the  con- 
fidence reposed  in  his  practical  wisdom,  in  the  sagacity  of  his  Aie\\'s, 
the  decision  of  his  purposes  and  the  untiring  fidelity  with  which  he 
laboured  in  whate\er  dut}-  he  undertook. 

"Such  are  the  qualities  to  which  men  ever  look  up  in  doubt  or  emer- 
gency;  plain,  sterling,  working  qualities,  partaking,  moreover,  of  the 
heart  even  more  than  of  the  head.  Without  these,  'cle\erness  is  a 
mischie\  ous  possession,  w  it  but  an  empty  flash,  and  e\  en  wisdom  an 
inoperative  and  useless  dream.' 

"How  much  the  qualities  of  heart  added  to  Bishop  Hobart's  influ- 
ence in  that  body,  those  who  there  knew  him  can  best  tell,  —  and  e\  en 
those  who  knew  him  anjavhere,  can  easilv  imagine.  Fairness,  frank- 
ness, and  straightforwardness,  always  marked  his  course.  What  he 
thought  honestly,  he  spoke  plainly — his  heart  and  his  tongue  A\ere 
companions  that  travelled  together,  so  that  neither  friend  nor  opponent 
was  ever  left  in  doubt  where  to  find  him.  Sarcasm  in  debate  he  could 
use,  but  did  most  rarely.  Nothing  seems  txtr  to  ha\'e  pro\  oked  him 
to  it  but  duplicit}'  and  meanness. 

"Hearing  on  one  occasion,  that  in  a  warm  debate  in  the  Board, 
contrary  to  his  wont,  he  had  treated  ^ith  scorn  an  opponent,  whose 
attachment  to  the  college  was  even  more  than  questionable,  the  author 
ventured  to  inquire  his  motive ;  — '  Sir , '  said  he,  '  there  are  some  men 
whom  it  is  needful  to  let  feel  your  power — and  he  is  one  of  them.' 

"On  all  other  occasions,  the  kindliness  of  his  nature  shone  forth, 
and  sa\ed  the  feelings  of  his  opponent  amid  all  attacks  upon  his  argu- 
ment. His  zeal,  therefore,  however  highly  excited,  had  no  rancour  in 
it,  his  opposition  no  bitterness  ;  few  ever  heard  him  say  a  harsh  word, 
[^  cxxxii  '} 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

—  none  an  unkind  one  ;  and  \\hene\er  w  armth  of  contro\ersy  struck 
forth  a  spark,  or  what  to  his  sensiti\  e  spirit  appeared  such,  he  seemed 
to  feel  no  peace  in  his  bosom  until  he  had  made  personal  acknow- 
ledgement, and  solicited  and  obtained  full  forgiveness. 

"One  or  two  instances  of  this,  taken  from  the  mouth  of  the  narra- 
tors, may,  for  their  truth  and  very  simplicity,  claim  place  in  such 
a  domestic  narrati\e  as  this. 

"On  one  occasion,  under  the  concurrence  of  many  exciting  causes, 
he  answered  a  friend,  in  debate,  in  haste  and  heat.  His  friend  was 
silent  from  respect  but  felt  deeply  hurt,  for  it  was  the  first  time  he  had 
heard  such  words  from  his  lips.  This  friend  had  scarce  reached  his 
home,  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Board,  and  seated  himself  alone 
in  his  library,  before  the  door  opened,  and  Bishop  Hobart  entered  \vith 
his  quick,  earnest  step  and  manner,  and  both  hands  extended  toward 
his  friend,  while  he  uttered  warmly  and  hurried!}',  these  words;  — 
'  Forgive  me,  my  dear  friend,  forgi^■e  me ;  I  was  wrong — I  was  very 
much  to  blame.'  It  is  needless  to  add  that  friend  was  his  own  for 
ever."* 

In  the  affairs  of  the  Charity  School,  which  had  been  made  a  sepa- 
rate corporation  in  1800,  and  which  under  its  new  name  of  "The 
New  York  Protestant  Episcopal  Public  School ' '  had,  in  1827,  enlarged 
its  scope,  he  was  not  only  the  adviser  as  well  as  president,  but  exer- 
cised a  judicious  o\ersight  over  the  studies. 

A  man  of  such  force,  energy,  and  alertness,  spending  much  of  his 
time  in  rapid  travel  from  town  to  town,  could  not  escape  serious 
illness.  While  he  kept  up  his  numerous  activities  in  the  parish,  the 
citv,  and  the  diocese,  he  had  frequent  and  severe  attacks  of  nervous 
dyspepsia.  But  his  will  power  carried  him  through  them  without 
serious  consequences  until,  in  the  fall  of  1822,  he  had  an  attack  of 
bilious  intermittent  fe\er  while  at  the  Short  Hills.  This  left  him  weak 
and  Mithout  the  strength  to  resist  future  attacks. 

In  the  summer  of  1823  he  was  again  worn  out  in  body,  and  took 

♦  McVickar's  Professional  Years,  p.  429. 

[_  cxxxiii  ]] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  long  journey  to  Quebec  in  company  with  Dr.  Berrian,  in  the 
hope  of  regaining  full  health  and  \  igour.  While  returning  after  a 
delightful  trip  and  many  kind  attentions  from  the  Bishop,  clergy, 
and  men  in  ci\il  and  official  life,  he  was  taken  so  suddenly  and  %  io- 
lently  ill  that  his  life  was  in  great  danger.  He  was  tenderly  cared  for, 
and  brought  to  New  York  by  slow  stages.  A  consultation  was  held  A\ith 
the  best  physicians  in  the  city ;  they  recommended  a  sea  \  ovage  and 
complete  change  of  scene  and  air.  Bishop  Hobart  sailed  for  England 
in  the  packet-ship  Meteor,  Captain  Gardiner,  September  24,  1823, 
cheered  by  the  warm  farewell  of  his  clergv,  the  citv,  and  the  diocese. 
In  England,  every  possible  attention  and  courtesy  \vas  shown  to  him. 

Dr.  Schroeder  thus  epitomizes  his  route  during  the  t\\"o  years  of 
his  sojourn  in  Europe,  and  gives  some  incidents  of  his  journevings : 
"In  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland, — and  in  France,  Switzerland, 
and  Italy, — he  made  an  interesting  tour  of  two  years.  Associations 
of  the  olden  time,  reminiscences  of  great  and  good  men  departed,  and 
classical  recollections  were  con tinualh'  ho\'ering  around  his  path.  His 
active  thoughts  were  every  moment  on  the  alert;  and  his  faithful 
memory  retained  what  his  acute  e^ye  observed. 

"He  was  twice  on  the  continent.  During  his  first  visit,  in  the  spring 
of  1824,  when  he  journeyed  through  France  to  Italy  as  far  as  Naples, 
his  health  did  not  admit  of  his  contemplating  with  satisfaction  the 
moral  scenery  in  his  course,  or  of  even  viewing  with  pleasure  the 
muhiplied  attractions  of  the  classic  realm.  He  returned  to  London  in 
July.  But  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  renewed  his  ^isit  to  the 
continent.  The  capital  and  the  country  of  France  had  less  to  engage 
his  mind  than  he  anticipated  in  the  Italian  metropolis  and  scenery. 
He  hastened  onward.  In  November  he  passed  through  Switzerland, 
and  was  in  Italj'  five  months.  He  reached  Rome  a  few  days  before 
the  high  festival  of  the  Nativity;  and  until  after  Passion-week,  lie 
spent  most  of  his  time  at  the  central  point  of  papal  power  and  mag- 
nificence. A  free  citizen  of  the  United  States  in  the  land  of  sovereignty 
the  most  absolute,  —  a  Protestant  Bishop  in  the  ecclesiastical  territory 
Q  cxxxiv  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

of  the  Roman  Pontiff", — his  mind  was  far  more  occupied  with  the  pre- 
"\  aihng  thoughts  and  feelings  of  the  people,  than  \\  ith  the  number- 
less curiosities  bv  w  hich  he  w  as  surrounded.  But  he  was  not  without 
a  lively  zest  for  these.  He  visited  the  gates  and  arches,  squares  and 
fountains,  galleries  and  gardens,  aqueducts  and  bridges,  obelisks,  and 
monuments  and  mausoleums,  —  the  palaces,  the  castles,  the  churches, 
and  the  august  cathedral.  He  was  often  in  the  Vatican,  among  its 
rare  treasures  of  science,  literature,  and  the  arts.  He  was  with  the 
multitudes  at  the  public  places  of  concourse  for  the  li\  ing,  and  among 
the  relics  of  the  dead  within  the  sombre  catacombs;  —  by  moonlight 
contemplating  the  Colisean  remains  of  the  ancient  city  of  the  Caesars, 
— and  frequently  at  sunrise  ascending  an  eminence  of  the  Pincian 
hill,  near  his  lodging  in  the  Piazza  di  Spagna,  to  survey  the  mod- 
ern city,  and  the  Campagna  di  Roma,  its  wide  encircling  solitude. 
But  all  his  feelings  of  admiration  and  solemnity  yielded  to  more 
powerful  emotions  than  those  arising  from  a  \  iew  of  the  imperial 
capital,  '  adorned  with  goodly  stones  and  gifts.'  To  see  so  many  of  the 
great  multitude  around  him  'wholly  given  to'  their  idle  ceremonies; 
to  see  '  the  prophets  prophesy  falsely,  and  the  priests  bear  rule  by  their 
means,  and  the  people  love  to  have  it  so ;'  to  see  the  simple  doctrines 
of  our  faith  \'itiated  b}-  the  corruptions  decked  in  the  gorgeous  ap- 
parel, and  moving  in  the  pageantry  of  this  world, — an  eye-witness 
of  the  spectacle,  'his  spirit  was  stirred  in  him.'  Acts  xvii.  16. 

"The  United  States'  Consul  made  known  to  him  a  desire  which 
had  been  expressed,  that  he  should  be  introduced  to  the  Pope  on 
an  occasion  when  two  other  American  citizens  were  to  be  presented. 
But  he  promptly  declined  any  inter\  iew,  as  the  usual  act  of  obei- 
sance on  his  part  might  so  readily  give  rise  to  misapprehension. 

' '  In  the  suburbs  of  the  papal  residence,  and  near  the  Gate  of  the 
People,  (Porta  del  Popolo,)  is  a  room  used  as  a  place  of  worship,  in 
which  the  ser\ice  of  the  Church  of  England  is  statedly  performed. 
In  his  mildness.  Pope  Pius  \^II  allowed  Protestants  to  meet  for  pub- 
lic prayer  xvithin  the  walls;  but  Leo  XII,  who  could  not  tolerate  the 
Q  cxxxv  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

intrusion,  commanded  that  it  sliould  be  permitted  only  out  of  the 
gates.  Bishop  Hobart  preached  in  this  ejected  chapel  three  times.  It 
was  on  the  last  of  these  occasions  that  he  made  one  of  the  annual 
appeals  in  behalf  of  the  persecuted  and  depressed  Waldenses  in  the 
valleys  of  Piedmont.  A  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  read 
the  service;  and  'the  Bishop's  sermon,'  says  one  of  his  audience, 
'met  the  high  approbation  of  all  present.'  Although  many  of  the 
Protestant  strangers  had  left  Rome,  'a  hundred  and  t\\enty  dollars 
were  collected.'  'It  is  a  remarkable  and  interesting  trait  in  their 
history,'  said  the  Bishop,  speaking  of  the  Waldenses,  that  while  the 
'  Christian  world  had  grossly  and  lamentably  deviated  from  the  purity 
of  the  Christian  faith,  polity,  and  worship,  these  people  retained  their 
faith,  polity,  and  worship,  in  their  primitive  simplicity  and  integrity. 
Christian  truth,  almost  extinguished  in  the  darkness  which  for  cen- 
turies overspread  Christendom,  was  preserved  pure  and  bright  in  the 
sequestered  ^■allevs  of  Piedmont ;  and  here  was  lighted  that  torch  which 
dispelled  the  superstitions  and  corruptions  that  rested  on  the  Church,  and 
restored  her  in  manij  countries  to  her  primitive  purity  and  brightness. ' 
The  discourse,  A\hich  is  entitled  'Christian  Svmpathy,'  was  soon 
published  at  London,  and  re-published  at  New-York. 

"From  Rome  the  Bishop  made  many  e.\cursions, — especially  to 
Naples,  Vesuvius,  Herculaneum,  and  Pompeii;  to  Ostia,  Grotto  Fer- 
rata,  Frascati,  and  the  ruins  of  Tusculum.  At  the  beginning  of  Ma_v, 
1825,  accompanied  by  some  American  friends  with  whom  he  had 
then  been  residing  for  three  months,  he  left  Rome  for  Florence,  vis- 
ited the  Apennines,  proceeded  to  Bologna,  Ferrara,  and  Mantua, — 
in  a  gondola  traversed  Venice,  tarrying  at  the  Armenian  convent  on 
the  island  of  St.  Lazaro, — and  thence  journeyed  to  Milan.  There 
parting  from  his  companions,  he  ascended  the  Alps,  and  lingered  with 
peculiar  satisfaction  amidst  their  w  ild  sublimity  and  terrific  grandeur. 

"The  journey  of  the  Republican  Protestant  Bishop  in  the  Italian 
states  had  been  diligendy  scanned,  as  if  w  ith  all  the  eyes  of  the  mytho- 
logical Pastor  Centoculus.  His  books  and  papers  had  been  searched 
Q  cxxxvi  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

with  singular  precision.  And  \\  hen  at  Milan,  he  u  as  unceremoniously 
summoned  before  the  ci\il  magistrates,  to  be  examined  as  to  the  actual 
object  of  his  tour.  Compelled  to  obey  the  summons,  he  appeared  at  the 
appointed  time  and  place  with  his  interpreter.  But  unable  as  he  was 
to  convey  his  thoughts  and  feelings,  except  through  the  tardy  medium 
of  interpretation,  which  his  naturally  glow  ing  temperament  could  not 
endure,  —  he  spoke  out  all  the  sentiments  of  his  heart  in  his  own  Eng- 
lish, and  by  the  mere  manner  of  his  ardent  frankness  and  unhesi- 
tating confidence,  he  in  a  few  moments  satisfied  the  jealousy  of  the 
inquisitorial  magistrates,  and  was  at  once  dismissed."  * 

An  aftectionate  address  from  the  Contention  of  1824  greatly  cheered 
him  in  his  wanderings.  He  sailed  for  New  York  in  the  packet-ship 
Canada,  September  1,  1825,  and  arrived  October  12.  So  warmly  was 
he  greeted,  says  his  friend,  "that  his  heart  melted  within  him,  for 
the  cordial  congratulations  of  all  seemed  to  confoimd  the  degrees  of 
affection  towards  him,  and  each  one  w  hom  he  met  appeared  like  a 
dear  and  personal  friend." f 

His  joy  at  being  home  again  found  expression  in  the  sermon  he 
preached  in  Trinity  Church  on  the  Sunday  after  his  return.  In  it 
he  set  forth  his  ow  n  sturdy  Americanism,  while  justly  describing 
religious  and  social  conditions  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  and  in 
England.  It  excited  much  comment,  and  was  severely  criticised  by 
many  of  his  English  friends.  The  Convention  of  the  diocese,  which 
had  been  deferred  until  his  return,  met  on  October  18.  There  was  a 
very  large  attendance,  eight3'-nine  clergymen  and  ninety-six  laymen. 
It  was  graced  ^\■ith  the  presence  of  tw  o  bishops,  both  of  them  dear 
friends  of  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  Dr.  Croes  of  New  Jersey  and 
Dr.  Brownell  of  Connecticut. 

With  an  intense  emotion  the  long  absent  ecclesiastical  Father  arose 
and  pronounced  his  eloquent  Address,  breathing,  throughout,  the 
most  ardent  assurances  of  friendly  affection  and  spiritual  love.  '  I  again 
press  to  the  bosom, — I  have  felt  it, — of  mutual  affection,'  said  he, 

*  Schroeder's  Memoir,  p.  Ixxviii.  f  Berrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  327. 

[  cxxxvii  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

'again  take  with  the  hand  of  \\arm  congratulation  the  clergv  whom 
I  had  left,  whom  I  had  often  seen  in  this  sacred  place.  I  knew  not 
their  full  hold  on  my  heart  until  I  was  separated  from  them,  and 
again  luiited  to  them.  I  also  see  the  revered  and  honoured  laymen, 
w  hom  I  have  been  and  am  proud  to  call  my  friends,  to  denominate 
them  with  an  appellation  that  still  more  endears  them  to  me — the 
friends  of  the  Church,  —  the  Zion  w  hom  they  and  I  ought,  and  I  trust 
do,  supremely  love ;  not  as  the  more  religious  party  with  w  hich  we 
are  fortuitously  cast,  but  as  the  depository  and  dispenser  of  the  truths 
of  salvation.'  'But  I  can  say,'  added  he,  'and  I  7mist  say,  that  I 
honour,  that  I  esteem,  that  I  lo\e  30U.  And  do,  I  beseech  you,  carry 
w  ith  you  to  your  congregations  and  jour  fellow  -churchmen,  the  ex- 
pressions of  my  gratitude  for  all  the  interest  w  hich,  in  \  arious  wavs, 
they  have  so  stronglj-  manifested  for  their  absent  bishop.  Tell  them 
that  he  comes  grateful  indeed,  for  hospitalities  and  attentions  abroad, 
and  admiring  much  that  he  has  seen,  especially  in  the  land  of  his 
fathers;  but  prizing  all  that  he  left  behind,  more,  he  would  almost 
say  infinitely  more,  than  w  hen  he  went  away ;  loving  his  Church 
as  the  purest  and  the  best,  however  as  yet  himible  among  the 
Churches  of  Christendom ;  and  why  should  he  not,  for  once  in  his 
life,  mingle  w  ith  his  public  acts  as  a  Christian  bishop  his  sentiments 
as  a  citizen,  loving  his  country  as  the  best  and  the  happiest,  because 
the  freest  upon  earth :  tell  them  that  he  comes  with  renovated  desires 
to  se/1'e  them, — to  do  his  duty  to  the  beloved  diocese  of  which  he  has 
charge.''  "  * 

An  incident  of  the  welcome  by  the  diocese.  Dr.  Berrian  thus  men- 
tions: "The  annual  convention  of  the  diocese  was  held  shortly  after 
his  return.  The  feelings  of  the  clergy  and  laity  from  all  parts  of  the 
state  were  in  unison  with  those  which  prevailed  in  the  city,  and  there 
was  therefore  a  general  desire  to  make  a  public  demonstration  of  them 
on  this  interesting  occasion.  But  though  there  were  none  w  ho  did  not 
wish  to  unite  in  this  testimony  of  gratitude  for  the  happy  return  of 

*  Schroedcr's  Memoir,  p.  xcii. 

[   cxxxviii   J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  Bishop,  yet  there  \\ere  a  few  who,  not  agreeing  ^\ ith  him  in  some 
of  his  opinions,  and  in  the  main  points  of  his  policy,  were  anxious 
that  the  resolutions  should  be  so  framed  as  merely  to  express  their 
sentiments  of  personal  attachment  and  respect,  and  their  high  sense 
of  his  usefulness,  piety,  and  \xorth.  \\'ith  a  \iew,  therefore,  to  render 
it  an  unanimous  act,  some  of  his  friends,  who  agreed  with  him  in 
all  points,  unhappily  yielded  to  this  consideration,  and  in  a  spirit  of 
accommodation,  as  unusual  as  it  w  as  unwise,  drew  them  up  in  such 
a  vague  and  general  form  as  deprived  them  of  all  the  force,  charac- 
ter, and  Aalue  \\  hich  could  make  them  worthv  of  his  acceptance.  The 
Bishop  had  met  his  clergy  and  people  with  a  generous  narmth,  which 
was  most  cordially  reciprocated.  He  knew  that,  with  verv  few  excep- 
tions, they  were  of  one  heart  and  one  soul.  He  knew  on  what  accounts 
he  Mas  particularly  distinguished  and  esteemed.  Any  good  and  ami- 
able prelate,  however  weak,  irresolute,  and  A\a\ering,  might  ha\e 
received  this  praise,  and  therefore,  on  the  dav  after  the  resolutions 
were  adopted,  he  rose  in  his  place,  and  in  the  bitterness  of  a  jealous 
and  Mounded  affection  rejected  it  with  scorn.  Never  did  I  hear  any 
person,  in  voice,  manner,  or  expression,  so  eloquent.  It  was  all  nature, 
feeling,  and  passion,  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch.  He  represented 
this  proceeding  as  a  crafty  device  of  his  opposers,  and  an  act  of  weak 
compliance  on  the  part  of  his  friends.  Under  the  appearance  of  con- 
gratulation and  praise,  it  left  out  all  those  notices  of  the  characteristic 
and  prominent  points  in  his  principles  and  policy  which  it  had  been 
the  labour  of  his  life  to  extend,  through  good  and  evil  report,  and  in 
which  he  placed  his  glory  and  pride.  It  neither  exhibited  him  as  he 
was  known  at  home,  nor  as  he  was  \alued  abroad.  It  was  not  agree- 
able to  the  just  and  afl'ectionate  tribute  which  had  been  presented  to 
him  on  his  departure,  nor  was  it  the  kind  of  commendation  which  he 
co^•eted  on  his  return.  It  Mas  a  diluted  and  weakened  praise,  M'hich 
was  in  no  way  applicable  to  one  ^\  ho  had  ah\ays  stemmed  the  current 
of  popular  opinion,  and  he  therefore  requested  that  the  resolutions 
should  be  expunged  from  the  minutes. 
Q  cxxxix  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

"This  is  the  mere  faint  and  imperfect  recollection  of  a  speech  wliich 
was  so  bold  and  poAverful,  as  to  bow  the  hearts  of  the  whole  assembly 
as  of  one  man.  The  justness  and  force  of  it  Avere  in  the  main  uniAcr- 
sally  felt.  The  particular  friends  of  the  Bishop  were  grie\ed  at  the  pain 
which  they  had  gi\en  him,  and  mortified  by  the  error  into  which  they 
had  fallen.  The  resolutions  were  modified  in  such  a  way  as  to  give 
them  an  appropriate  character ;  and  this  fearless  vindication  of  his 
fame,  so  far  from  being  regarded  as  a  display  of  arrogance  and  pride, 
A\  as  only  considered  as  a  proof  of  that  ele\  ation  of  mind  \\  hich  glo- 
ries in  an  honourable  course,  rather  than  in  imdistinguishing  and 
popular  applause."* 

For  nearly  five  years  longer  tlie  undaunted  champion  of  primitive  truth 
and  apostolic  order  was  privileged  to  work  and  plan  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  diocese  and  general  good  of  the  Church.  He  had  the  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  the  days  of  misunderstanding  and  opposition 
were  past,  and  that  everyone  gave  him  their  confidence  and  regard. 

At  the  General  Con\ention  of  1826,  Bishop  Hobart  presented  a  series 
of  resolutions  proposing  certain  modifications  in  the  use  of  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,  and  adapting  the  Confirmation  Office  to  actual 
conditions,  since  at  that  time  it  was  usually  adults  A\ho  receiAed  the 
apostolic  rite.  But  the  very  proposal  produced  alarm  and  conster- 
nation among  all  Churchmen.  So  sharp  was  the  contention  and  so 
great  was  the  indignation  that  any  one,  and  especially  Bishop  Hobart, 
should  presume  to  alter  "our  incomparable  Liturgy,"  that  Mhen  the 
General  Convention  met  at  Philadelphia  in  1829,  it  A\as  the  Bishop 
of  New  York  himself  Avho,  on  August  15,  offered  in  the  House  of 
Bishops  a  resolution  that  ' '  under  existing  circumstances  it  was  not 
expedient  to  adopt  the  proposed  resolution  relative  to  the  Liturgy 
and  office  of  Confirmation,"  which  was  concurred  in  by  the  House 
of  Deputies. 

Dr.  Berrian  says:  "In  the  General  Convention  of  1826  a  proposi- 
tion was  made  by  the  House  of  Bishops  for  sundry  alterations  in  the 

*Bcrrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  361. 

[  cxl  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Liturgy.  The  measure  was  adopted  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies,  but,  according  to  the  constitution,  it  was  to  be  com- 
municated in  the  recess  of  the  sittings  of  that  body  to  the  conven- 
tions of  all  the  dioceses,  and  then  to  be  acted  upon  at  the  following 
meeting  of  the  General  Convention.  It  was  understood  to  have  been 
brought  forward  by  Bishop  Hobart,  and  it  is  therefore  necessary  to 
explain  by  what  motives  he  was  influenced  in  the  suggestion  of  a  plan 
which  was  much  more  likely  to  open  a  boundless  field  for  discus- 
sion than  to  lead  to  any  satisfactory  results.  It  was  entirely  contrary 
to  all  his  predilections  and  habits.  His  love  of  the  Liturgy  Mas  a 
passion.  His  admiration  of  it  in  every  part  A\as  so  great,  that  it  had 
even  been  the  occasion  of  charging  him  w  ith  a  want  of  due  \  enera- 
tion  for  the  \\ord  of  God.  He  had  at  all  times  enforced  the  observ- 
ance of  it  among  his  clergy  w  ith  the  utmost  earnestness,  solicitude, 
and  zeal.  I  do  not  remember  an  instance  under  any  circumstances  in 
our  parish,  of  his  omitting  even  those  parts  which  are  left  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  minister,  nor  do  I  believe  that  if  the  alterations  which 
he  proposed,  and  which  w  ere  also  to  have  been  discretionary  had  been 
adopted,  that  he  A\ould  have  changed  his  own  practice. 

"But  in  certain  sections  of  the  Church  it  had  been  alleged  that 
the  ser\'ice  was  too  long,  and  in  accommodation  to  this  opinion,  many 
of  the  clergy,  in  disregard  of  their  solemn  obligations  and  aows,  had 
substituted  their  private  will  for  the  public  law.  This  appeared  to 
Bishop  Hobart  to  be  such  a  subversion  of  principle  as  would  e\  ent- 
ually  bring  all  authority  and  all  order  into  utter  contempt.  If,  there- 
fore, the  pretext  of  the  undue  length  of  the  ser\  ice  could  be  remo\ed, 
and  whatever  was  doubtful  in  the  construction  of  a  certain  rubrick,* 
by  which  a  very  common  irregularity  was  justified,  were  made 
clear  and  indisputable,  then  every  violation  of  the  order  of  the  Church 
would  be  ^\  ithout  excuse ;  and  he  not  only  believed  that  it  would  be 
without  excuse,  but  he  was  even  disposed  to  indulge  the  hope,  that 
it  would  in  a  great  measure  be  without  temptation. 

*The  rubric  relative  to  the  Ante-Communion  Sen'ice. 

[  cxli  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

"The  modifications  proposed  were  such  as  would  make  no  strik- 
ing aheration  in  the  daily  service  of  the  Church.  In  its  general  form 
it  was  to  remain  the  same  as  it  had  ever  been .  The  change  was  to 
be  entirely  confined  to  the  Lessons  and  the  Psalms.  These  were  either 
to  be  reduced  in  length  to  a  certain  extent,  or  retained  in  the  w  ay 
originally  prescribed,  at  the  discretion  of  the  minister.  The  Preface 
also  in  the  Confirmation  Service  was  to  be  slightly  altered,  and  the 
Rubrick  in  relation  to  the  Ante-Communion  Ser\ice  to  be  made  so 
explicit  as  to  render  the  observance  of  it  a  matter  of  the  clearest  and 
strictest  obligation. 

"No  change  could  have  been  made  with  less  violence  to  the  de\out 
feelings  and  endearing  associations  of  our  people.  It  would  have  been 
so  slight  in  appearance  as  scarcely  to  be  noticed,  and  3'et  the  abridge- 
ment of  the  Lessons  and  the  Psalms  would  have  been  so  material 
as  to  bring  the  service  within  reasonable  bounds,  to  secure  greater 
uniformity  in  its  observance,  or  to  expose  its  \'iolators  to  the  se\erest 
censure  and  reproach. 

"The  measure  was  brought  forward  by  Bishop  Hobart,  with  the 
view  of  promoting  universal  harmony  and  order,  and  in  a  spirit  of 
the  utmost  conciliation  and  kindness ;  which  was  met  A\ith  great  cor- 
diality by  some  who  differed  widely  from  him  in  his  general  views. 
It  was,  however,  with  singular  frowardness  and  per\ersit_v,  stronglj^ 
opposed  by  many  of  those  who  were  in  the  constant  habit  of  mutilat- 
ing the  Liturgy,  as  well  as  by  others  who  sacredly  observed  it,  and 
who  dreaded  the  efl'ects  of  innovation  and  change.  From  this  double 
opposition,  therefore,  it  was  finally  rejected."* 

It  was  the  happiness  of  Bishop  Hobart  to  show  the  remnant  of  the 
once  powerful  Iroquois  nation  still  living  in  the  State  of  New  York,  the 
beauty  and  power  of  the  Christian  religion.  As  soon  as  it  was  known 
that  some  of  the  Indians  on  the  Oneida  reservation  were  inclined  to 
study  Christian  truth,  and  that  their  teacher  in  secular  knouledge, 
Mr.  Eleazar  Williams,  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  son  of  a  famous  Mo- 

*  Berrian's  Memoir,  vol.  i,  p.  367. 

:  cxiii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

haw  k  chief,  and  by  others  the  missing  Dauphin,  son  of  Louis  XVI, 
was  also  instilHng  into  them  the  elements  of  Christianit}-,  the  Bishop 
saw  that  he  was  properly  taught  in  the  distincti\  e  principle  of  the 
Church  as  he  desired,  visited  the  Indians  in  their  castle,  addressed 
them  in  affectionate  terms,  and  received  from  them  a  most  touch- 
ing address,  praving  him  to  take  them  under  his  spiritual  care.  His 
visits  were  periodical,  and  always  producti\e  of  great  good.  It  was 
at  his  visit  on  July  18,  1826,  that  he  made  Mr.  Williams  a  deacon  in 
the  room  they  used  for  public  service,  w  hile  the  church  know  n  as 
St.  Peter's  was  building. 

The  scene,  as  described  by  him,  was  impressive.  The  address  by 
their  chief  to  their  '  'great  and  venerable  father ' '  was  full  of  the  Indian 
dignit}',  and  j-et  of  deep  thankfulness  for  the  many  blessings  they  had 
received  from  their  Christian  profession  and  practice.  The  Bishop,  in  his 
reply,  was  clear,  affectionate,  and  yet  simple  in  pointing  to  them  the 
only  true  source  of  happiness.  The  chain  of  friendship  formed  by  the 
oldest  chief  clasping  the  hand  of  the  Bishop,  and  each  in  turn  taking 
the  hand  of  the  one  next  inferior  in  dignity  until  it  extended  through 
the  whole  congregation,  was  solemn  and  significant.  The  Bishop's 
interest  followed  them  to  their  new  and  distant  home  at  Green  Bay, 
Wisconsin,  although  he  was  unable  to  carry  out  his  cherished  plan 
of  visiting  them,  even  when  he  was  as  near  as  Detroit,  Michigan, 
where  he  went  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  sub- 
sequently to  consecrate  it. 

The  convictions  of  Bishop  Hobart  in  regard  to  the  pernicious 
tendency  of  voluntary  societies  not  under  the  sanction  of  Episcopal 
authority  is  shown  by  his  attitude  to  the  Clerical  Association  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  Several  earnest,  hard-working  clergymen,  feeling 
the  need  of  mutual  aid,  counsel,  and  criticism,  had  formed  an  asso- 
ciation in  which  there  was  to  be  united  prayer,  social  intercourse,  the 
reading  and  criticism  of  essays,  sermons,  and  expositions  of  passages 
of  Holv  Scripture.  The  Bishop  had  been  informally  consulted  before 
its  organization,  and  plainly  but  briefly  expressed  himself  as  adverse 
[^  cxliii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBAl^T 

to  it.  He  thought  its  tendency  would  be  to  self-righteousness,  to  an 
ignoring  of  the  sober  paths  of  the  Church,  to  the  exaltation  of  indi- 
\idual  clergymen  abo\ e  their  brethren  as  superior  in  intellect  and 
devotion.  He  set  forth  his  opinions  in  a  pastoral  letter  which  ga\e 
rise  to  a  courteous  but  distressing  controversy.  The  ^  iew  s  of  the 
Bishop,  it  is  said,  were  approved  b}-  the  greater  part  of  the  clergy  and 
laity  of  the  diocese. 

While  the  result  was  the  dissolution  of  the  association,  several  of 
those  who  withdrew  from  it  announced  that  their  action  was  in  de- 
ference to  the  Bishop,  and  not  because  they  doubted  the  usefulness 
of  such  a  societ}-.  At  the  request  of  the  members,  "A  Defence  of  the 
Association"  was  prepared  and  published.  This  was  the  last  time 
Bishop  Hobart  engaged  in  a  discussion  of  Church  principles.  For  the 
remaining  years  of  his  life  he  was  most  imtiring  in  his  \isitations. 
Larger  numbers  were  presented  for  confirmation,  more  churches  were 
consecrated,  and  there  was  an  increased  number  of  candidates  for  holy 
orders,  show  ing  a  healthy  and  permanent  grow  th  of  the  Church. 

It  was  during  his  western  visitation  in  the  summer  of  1830  that 
with  startling  suddenness  he  was  taken  ill  at  St.  Peter's  Rectorv, 
Auburn,  the  home  of  his  dear  friend,  the  Re\'.  Dr.  John  Churchill 
Rudd.  He  died  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  September  12,  1830. 
The  particulars  of  his  last  illness  are  given  with  lo\  ing  precision  in 
"The  Gospel  Messenger"  for  September  13,  1830. 

The  last  Illness  and  Death  of  the  Right  Rev.  JOHN  HENRY  HO- 
BART, D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State 
of  New-  York 

This  Right  Reverend  Prelate  and  pious  servant  of  God  expired  at 
the  parsonage-house  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Auburn,  the  residence 
of  his  friend,  the  writer  of  this  article,  at  four  o'clock  on  Sunday 
morning,  September  12,  1830,  being  55  years  of  age. 

The  follow  ing  article  is  not  designed  to  draw  the  character  of  this 

distinguished  ornament  and  defender  of  the  Christian  cause ;  in  it 

[  cxliv  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

there  w  ill  be  no  attempt  made  to  delineate  the  features  of  that  noble 
and  energetic  mind,  nor  \\  ill  it  be  employed  in  ordinar\-  obituarv 
reflections. 

The  writer  is  under  the  impression  that  the  public,  especialh-  that 
portion  of  it  which  is  attached  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  \\ill  be  im- 
patient to  ha\  e  before  them  the  particulars  of  the  last  days  of  this 
extensi\ely  known  and  ardently  belo\ed  indi\idual.  Under  the  pres- 
sure of  no  common  emotions,  he  deems  it  his  duty  to  employ  the  first 
moments  he  has,  after  ha\  ing  finished  his  attentions  to  the  body  of 
the  friend  of  nearly  thirty  years,  in  gi\ing  the  afflicted  members  of 
the  Church,  and  the  weeping  relati\es  and  personal  friends  of  the 
deceased,  such  particulars  as  cannot  well  be  expected  from  another, 
and  which  a  sense  of  painful  responsibility  impels  him  not  to  delay. 
Should  the  task  be  found  imperfectly  performed,  let  his  apology  be 
read  in  the  oppressi\e  w eight  of  feeling  \\  hich  cannot  be  remo\ed 
till  time  has  reconciled  him  to  the  pre\'ailing  stillness  and  gloom  of 
a  dwelling  \isited  by  death,  to  the  absence  of  assiduous  physicians, 
the  retiring  of  anxious  attendants  and  inquiring  friends. 

Bishop  Hobart  arriyed  at  my  house  on  the  eyening  of  Wednesday, 
the  1st  inst.  in  ordinary  health,  ■\\ith  the  exception  of  a  slight  cold, 
which  he  said  made  him  a  little  chilly.  He  rested  Mell  that  night,  and 
complained  of  nothing  unusual  the  following  morning.  He  preached 
that  morning  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  and  administered  confirmation 
to  nine  persons.  His  sermon,  alas  his  last  sermon,  Ayas  uttered  in 
his  usually  impressiye  manner,  and  listened  to  by  a  full  congregation, 
with  a  profound  stillness  and  attention.  The  text  was  Job  xxyiii.  28 
— The  Fear  of  the  Lord,  that  is  Wisdom. 

On  returning  to  the  parsonage-house,  he  complained  of  coldness, 
and  oppression  at  the  stomach,  from  which  his  friends  haye  known 
him  to  suffer  \  ery  severely  for  more  than  twenty  years.  He  ate  litUe 
at  dinner,  and  shortly  after  retired  to  his  room,  where  he  slept  some 
time.  At  tea  he  ate  nothing,  and  soon  after  returned  to  his  room, 
where  he  bathed  his  feet  in  w arm  w ater,  and  \\ent  to  bed.  On  enter- 

:  cxiv  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

ing  his  room  the  next  morning  to  hand  him  some  letters,  1  found  he 
complained  still  more  of  being  unwell.  He  was  urged  to  abandon  the 
idea  of  meeting  his  appointments  for  the  two  next  days,  and  take 
some  active  medicine.  To  this  measure  he  expressed  great  reluctance, 
though  it  was  repeatedh'  pressed  upon  him  by  different  members 
of  the  family.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hollister,  of  Skaneateles,  called  about 
twelve  o'clock  noon,  with  a  con\eyance  to  take  the  Bishop  to  Pompev, 
where  there  was  a  church  to  be  consecrated  the  following  day.  About 
half  an  hour  before  this.  Dr.  Morgan,  of  tliis  ^  illage,  called  to  pay 
his  respects.  On  discovering  the  Bishop's  e\  ident  tendency  to  indis- 
position, he  seconded  the  remonstrance  of  the  writer,  against  pro- 
ceeding on  his  tour  of  duty.  The  Bishop  yielded  to  his  advice,  and  the 
Doctor  w'ent  to  his  office  to  prepare  some  medicine,  which  he  kindly 
offered  to  administer  himself,  and  proposed  to  remain  till  the  operation 
was  over.  This  he  did. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  some,  to  be  informed  of  a  coincidence  which 
will  be  here  stated.  On  the  9th  of  September,  1826,  the  writer  ha\- 
ing  been  but  a  few  weeks  a  resident  of  the  place.  Bishop  Hobart  held 
confirmation  in  the  church  here.  Towards  evening  of  that  day  he  was 
taken  suddenly  ill  while  alone  in  his  room;  a  young  man  who  has 
attended  him  in  his  last  illness,  being  in  an  adjoining  apartment, 
heard  him  fall;  the  writer  was  alarmed,  and  ran  to  his  assistance, 
and  found  him  lying  on  his  face,  faint,  and  somewhat  convulsed. 
Orders  were  instantly  gi\en  to  call  a  physician;  and  Dr.  Morgan, 
then  an  entire  stranger  to  all  concerned,  w  as  providentially  found  in 
the  street,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  with  the  Bishop.  By  a  timelj-  pre- 
scription and  careful  attention  the  threatened  illness  passed  o\er,  and 
the  next  day  found  our  Prelate  consecrating  a  church  at  Moravia, 
nearly  twenty  miles  from  this  place.  Whenever  the  Bishop  has  sub- 
sequently made  any  stay  in  this  village,  the  Doctor  has  called  upon 
him.  The  Bishop  was  from  the  first  much  pleased  with  this  gentle- 
man, and,  as  will  be  seen,  grew  fond  of  him,  and  placed  the  utmost 
confidence  in  him  to  the  last.  We  now  return  to  the  narrative. 
[_  cxlvi  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

The  medicine  gi\en  as  abo\e  stated,  took  a  happy  effect,  and  the 
prospect  was,  that  after  a  few  hours'  rejwse  and  some  further  medi- 
cine, the  Bishop  would  be  relie\ed.  He  rested  well  the  former  part 
of  the  night  of  J>iday,  the  3d  ;  and  though,  during  most  of  the  fol- 
lowing day,  (Saturday,  the  4th,)  he  suffered  considerably,  he  found 
himself  much  better  and  more  comfortable  on  Sunday,  the  5th ;  and 
it  was  supposed  that  he  would  be  soon  wholly  relieved.  It  was  evi- 
dent, however,  that,  under  the  most  fa\'ourable  circumstances,  he 
could  not  in  safety  attend  to  his  appointments  for  the  two  following 
weeks.  During  the  middle  of  the  day,  a  letter,  dictated  by  himself, 
was  addressed  to  his  son.  Dr.  William  H.  Hobart,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  expressing  the  opinion  of  the  Bishop  himself,  that  he 
was  convalescent;  but  as  he  concluded  that  he  should  not  have  suffi- 
cient strength  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  visitation  appointments, 
it  would  be  ad\'isable  for  him  to  return  home  as  soon  as  he  should 
be  able  to  tra\  el,  and  he  ^\  ished  his  son  to  come  on  for  the  purpose 
of  attending  him  on  the  way. 

On  Monday,  the  6th,  the  writer  suggested  to  the  Bishop  the  pro- 
priety of  issuing,  in  the  form  of  a  "Gospel  Messenger"  Extra,  the 
notice  which  has  been  generally  seen.  In  that  Extra,  which  was  read 
to  the  Bishop,  he  requested  the  alteration  of  the  original  expression 
of  the  writer,  and  substituted  for  it,  "his  disease  is  now  yielding 
to  judicious  treatment."  On  Tuesday,  the  7th,  the  symptoms  were 
more  unfavourable,  but  there  was  nothing  by  any  means  alarming 
either  to  the  physician  or  himself.  During  Wednesday,  the  8th,  the 
Bishop's  disorder  assumed  a  severer  character ;  but  he  was  evidently 
much  more  comfortable  through  a  large  portion  of  Thursday,  the 
9th  ;  but  on  Friday,  the  10th,  the  symptoms  became  seriously  alarm- 
ing, and  towards  the  evening  of  that  day,  assumed  a  fatal  aspect. 
About  nine  the  Bishop's  son  arrived.  His  introduction  into  the  room 
of  his  venerated  father  produced  emotions  better  imagined  than  de- 
scribed, and  which  w  ill  not  be  soon  forgotten  by  those  present.  The 
Bishop  was  in  full  possession  of  his  powers  of  mind  and  voice.  The 
C  cxlvii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

inquiries  he  made  after  his  family,  the  pious  counsels  he  addressed 
to  his  child,  the  fervour  of  his  religious  feelings,  the  ardour  of  his 
affectionate  language,  produced  for  a  time  a  most  thrilling  and  o\  er- 
whelming  effect.  Painfully  interesting  as  this  interview  was,  it  was 
truly  gratifying  to  those  who  had  hitherto  surrounded  the  Bishop's 
bed,  that  Dr.  Hobart  could  hear  from  his  father's  mouth,  not  only 
his  last  admonitions  and  affectionate  entreaties  to  make  the  Sa\iour 
of  his  soul  the  supreme  object  of  his  love,  but  that  he  might  have 
from  it  an  assurance  that  the  father  had  the  fullest  confidence  in 
what  his  physicians  had  done  for  him.  This  sentiment  was  frequently 
expressed  during  the  whole  of  his  sickness.  Though  he  had  the  ad- 
\antage  of  the  counsel  of  se\ eral  of  the  most  distinguished  and  able 
medical  gentlemen  from  other  villages,  and  though  he  was  ^•ery  much 
gratified  by  their  visits,  and  still  more  by  their  untiring  attention,  he 
never  failed  to  assure  both  them  and  his  attending  physician,  that  he 
had  the  most  entire  confidence  in  the  latter.  To  him  he  often  addressed 
the  most  grateful,  pious,  and  tender  remarks.  Again  and  again  he 
would  say,  "My  dear  Doctor,  give  me  your  hand,  it  soothes  me; 
you  have  been  very  kind  and  faithful  to  me;  you  have  been  most 
judicious  in  jour  treatment  of  me ;  you  will  not  lose  your  reward ; 
for,  whether  I  live  or  die,  you  ha\'e  done  jour  duty.  God  will  bless 
you;  my  Saviour  will  bless  you."  To  his  other  attendants  he  \\as 
continually  addressing  the  most  warm  acknoA\ledgements,  imploring 
upon  them  the  richest  blessings.  On  receiving  the  slightest  refresh- 
ment or  relief,  his  first  expression  was,  "God  be  praised,"  and  then 
he  would  tenderly  and  repeatedly  thank  the  immediate  agent.  Time 
will  not  permit  anything  like  a  narrative  of  his  con\  ersations  and 
remarks  to  those  in  his  room.  Throughout  his  sickness,  none  were 
admitted  who  were  not  necessary  to  his  comfort. 

Though  Bishop  Hobart  did  not  consider  himself  alarmingly  ill  till 

the  latter  part  of  his  sickness,  still  he  frequendy  observed,  even  in  the 

earlier  part  of  it,  that  it  was  the  third  attack  of  the  kind,  and  one  such, 

he  had  7io  doubt,  "would  some  day  be  his  end."  "Perhaps,"  said 

r  cxlviii   J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

he,  "this  may  be  that  one  ;  if  so,  God's  will  be  done.  O  pray  for  me, 
that  I  mav  not  only  say  this,  hvix.  feel '\i — feel  it  as  a  sinner;  for  bear 
me  w  itness,  I  have  no  merit  of  my  own.  As  a  guilty  sinner  would  I 
go  to  mv  Saviour,  casting  all  m_v  reliance  on  him  —  the  atonement  of 
his  blood.  He  is  my  only  dependence — my  Redeemer,  my  Sanctifier, 
my  God,  my  Judge."  Such  was  the  tenour  of  much  of  his  conver- 
sation ;  and  it  is  most  earnesUy  wished  that  the  writer  had  the  abil- 
ity as  well  as  time  to  record,  in  the  glowing  language  of  the  departed 
Prelate,  the  evidence  he  gave  of  deep  humility,  of  lively  faith,  of 
animadng  hope  of  the  joys  of  heaven. 

On  Sunday,  the  5th,  he  requested  the  writer  to  perform  in  his  room 
the  office  of  visitation  of  the  sick,  in  w  hich,  with  his  Prayer  Book 
lying  on  his  bed  before  him,  he  joined  with  that  delightful  fervour 
for  which  his  manner  has  been  so  often  admired.  Frequently,  through 
the  day  and  the  night,  he  would  request  either  the  writer,  or  the  rev- 
erend brother  who  was  with  him  all  the  time  from  Tuesday  p.m. 
till  he  died,  to  use  some  short  prayer.  This  practice  was  continued 
till  he  became  too  much  exhausted  to  be  benefited  by  it.  He  often 
asked  for  some  portion  of  Bishop  Andrews'  Litany  to  be  read.  In  his 
own  repetition  of  them  there  was  a  thrilling  effect  upon  those  present. 

On  Saturday  morning  the  indications  m  ere  so  wholly  discouraging 
that  his  physicians  ad\  ised  that  he  should  be  informed  that  they  con- 
sidered him  in  a  very  dangerous  situation.  Though  the  Bishop  had 
e\idently  regarded  his  case  as  very  doubtful,  he  might  not  be  aware 
that  his  time  was  so  near  out  as  it  has  pro\ed  to  have  been. 

The  painful  office  of  making  the  communication  fell  upon  the 
writer,  and  it  was  suggested  that  if  he  had  anything  to  do  or  say 
there  should  be  no  delay,  and  allusion  was  made  to  his  wishes  as 
to  the  Lord's  supper.  "Oh  yes,"  said  he,  "the  sacrament,  the  sacra- 
ment ;  that  is  the  last  thing — that  is  all — let  me  have  it."  There  was 
a  firmness  and  composure  in  his  manner,  as  he  uttered  the  words, 
"Well,  God's  will  be  done,"  which  moved  every  heart,  and  con- 
firmed all  present  in  the  conviction  that  the  pious  affection  of  this 
L  cxlix  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

venerated  and  belo\  ed  Bishop  could  not  be  shaken  bv  the  approaches 
of  death. 

The  sacrament  was  soon  administered  by  the  \\riter,  and  long  w  ill 
that  solemn  scene  be  remembered  bv  all  w  ho  beheld  the  transaction, 
as  one  of  the  most  tender  and  mo\  ing  character.  When  the  person 
officiating  came,  in  the  confession,  to  the  words,  "by  thought,  word, 
and  deed,"  the  Bishop  stopped  him  and  said,  "You  know  the  Church 
expects  us  to  pause  over  these  words;  pause  now,  repeating  one  of 
the  words  at  a  time,  till  I  request  you  to  go  on."  This  was  done, 
and  the  pauses  in  each  case  were  so  long,  that  a  fear  passed  o\  er  our 
minds  that  he  had  lost  his  recollecdon,  or  fallen  asleep.  This,  how- 
exer,  proved  not  to  be  so;  he  repeated  each  word,  "Proceed,  I  will 
interrupt  jou  no  more."  At  the  proper  place  he  requested  to  hear 
read  the  93d  hymn.  As  soon  as  the  reading  was  ended,  he  sung 
clearly  the  second  and  third  verses. 

From  this  time,  which  was  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  there 
was  no  very  important  change.  During  the  night  he  said  very  little, 
and  for  about  four  hours  before  he  expired  was  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
insensible  to  what  was  passing  around.  He  sunk  into  the  arms  of 
death  without  a  struggle ;  and  his  face  soon  assumed  that  engaging 
expression  which  has  in  life  so  often  delighted  those  who  loved  him. 

The  most  expeditious  preparations  w  ere  made  for  his  removal  to 
the  city,  for  interment.  A  very  respectable  body  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  village  assembled  at  the  parsonage-house  where,  after  a  few  re- 
marks by  the  writer,  he  performed  that  service  in  the  Clergyman's 
Companion,  prepared  by  the  Bishop  himself  for  similar  occasions. 
The  body  being  placed  in  a  hearse,  (Sunday,  3  o'clock  p.m.)  a 
procession  was  formed  ;  the  writer  and  some  members  of  his  family, 
with  the  wardens  and  \estrymen  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  with  some 
other  members  of  the  congregation,  followed  the  corpse  in  carriages 
— Dr.  Hobart  having  previously  taken  his  departure.  The  bell  of 
St.  Peter's  Church  ^vas  tolled  till  the  procession  reached  the  edge  of 
the  \  illage,  when  the  people  on  foot  and  some  others  returned,  and 

:  ci  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

se\  eral  carriages  proceeded  with  tlie  bod}"  to  W^eedsport,  eight  miles, 

where  a  canal-boat  «  as  in  readiness ;  and  it  was  committed  to  the 

care  of  the  Rev .  Francis  H.  Cuming,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Y.  How,jun., 

\\  ho  had  been  the  constant  attendants  of  the  Bishop  night  and  day, 

the  former  from  Tuesday,  p.m.  The  qualification  of  this  gentleman 

for  a  nurse,  and  his  untiring  assiduity,  made  him  a  most  important 

aid   to  the  writer  and   his   family  during  those   trying   days.    He 

was  so  acceptable  to  the  Bishop,  that  he  was  unwilling  to  have  him 

a  moment  from  his  room,  except  now  and  then  he  would  command 

him  to  go  and  get  some  rest. 

The  foregoing  has  been  m  ritten  to  meet  the  supposed  expectation  of 

the  distant  public,  and  the  Bishop's  more  immediate  friends,  that  the 

writer  would  make  them  acquainted  with  the  most  prominent  facts 

and  incidents  in  the  last  days  of  that  eminent  man,  w  hose  death 

fills  the  Church  with  mourning. 

John  C.  Rudd 

The  sorrow  was  universal  throughout  the  diocese  and  the  whole 
Church.  As  the  canal-boat,  with  its  company  of  mourners  surround- 
ing the  body  of  their  Bishop  and  friend,  proceeded  slowly  from  town 
to  town,  the  bells  were  tolled  and  sad-faced  groups  watched  it  pass. 
When  the  coffin  \\  as  transferred  to  the  steamer  Constellation  at  Albany, 
a  delegation  from  the  \  estry  of  St.  Peter's  acted  as  a  guard  of  honour, 
and  many  Churchmen  and  citizens  accompanied  it  to  the  wharf.  The 
funeral  was  held  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  on  Friday,  Sep- 
tember 17.  The  procession,  which  included  the  representati\ es  of 
many  organizations  in  the  Church,  the  acting  governor  of  the  State,  the 
mayor  of  the  city,  the  clergy,  and  citizens  in  general,  moved  from 
the  rectory.  No.  50  Varick  Street,  at  a  quarter  before  five  o'clock, 
and  arrived  at  Trinity  Church  at  half-past  six.  It  was  esdmated 
that  it  was  a  mile  in  length.  There  were  eighty  clergymen  and  se\en 
hundred  persons  belonging  to  the  various  societies  and  boards  to 
whom  places  had  been  assigned. 

*  Schroeder's  Memorial,  p.  237. 

C    Cli    ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

An  eve-witness  says:  "Well  do  I  recollect  the  thrill  of  unfeigned 
sorrow  that  went  through  this  citv  (when  there  was  no  railroad  and 
no  telegraph),  as,  day  after  day,  the  papers  announced  that  the  Bishop 
had  fallen  sick  at  Auburn,  and  that  his  life  was  despaired  of.  So  it 
always  occurs  \\ith  great  CAcnts  e\en  in  our  days ;  something  conies 
beforehand,  and  no  one  knows  how  it  comes ;  but  the  news  is  e\  ery- 
where  surmised,  and  then  at  last  comes  the  sudden  blow.  Permit  me 
to  recall  the  funeral  of  Bishop  Hobart,  which  I  followed  from  St. 
John's  Square  all  the  way  down  through  Walker  Street  to  Broadway, 
and  so  on  to  Trinity  Church ;  the  most  decorous  and  most  \enerable, 
in  every  respect  the  most  impressi\e  funeral  that  I  e\er  beheld.  All 
New  York  looked  on  and  e\'erything  was  done  with  decency  and 
order,  yet  without  parade  and  with  a  sublime  simplicitj-.  The  funeral 
train  was  verv  long;  there  were  no  carriages,  save  one  or  two,  per- 
haps, for  the  Bishop's  family,  and  all  that  was  good  in  New  York 
seemed  present.  The  ministers  of  religion,  the  students  of  Columbia 
College,  in  academic  dress,  and  \'enerable  presbyters  of  the  diocese, 
in  gown  and  cassock,  with  bands,  made  a  striking  figure. 

"The  bod}-  was  carried  on  men's  shoulders  and  co\ered  w  ith  a  pall, 
which  six  presbjters  supported  as  pall-bearers.  As  they  passed  down 
Broadway  a  military  company,  or  perhaps  a  larger  portion  of  a  regi- 
ment, met  the  funeral  by  accident;  but  instincti\ely,  reverentlj-,  by 
those  methods  \\hich  militarj-  men  better  understand  than  I  can  de- 
scribe them,  the  ranks  Mere  separated  and  they  stood  with  re^ersed 
arms  \\  hile  the  remains  of  the  great  Bishop  of  New  York  passed 
between  that  file  of  solemn  soldiery,  offering  an  unbought  tribute 
to  his  universally  acknowledged  merits  as  a  prelate  and  a  man  of 
God."* 

The  burial  service  was  said  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Moore  of  Vir- 
ginia, the  Rev.  Dr.  L3ell,  rector  of  Christ  Church,  and  the  Rev. 

•  The  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Coxe,  in  an  address  at  St.  Thomas's  Church,  New  York  City,  Wednesday, 
September  50,  1885,  on  pages  107,  108.  The  Centennial  History  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  Diocese  ofNeiv  York,  1 78 5-1 88 5.  New  York :  D.  Appleton  and  Company,  1886, 
8vo,  pp.  454. 

c  ciii : 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.^RT 

John  F.  Schroeder,  an  assistant  minister  in  Trinity  parish.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  T.  Onderdonk  preached  the  sermon  from  the 
text,  "He  was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light:  and  ye  were  willing 
for  a  season  to  rejoice  in  his  light."  St.  John  v.  35. 

"Such  was  the  Saviour's  declaration  of  St.  John  the  Baptist.  It 
alluded  to  a  figure  common  and  well  understood  by  the  Jews,  whereby 
a  teacher  of  religion  was  called  a  light,  or  more  properly,  a  lamp^ 
a  dispenser  of  light.  The  expression,  'for  a  season,'  during  w  hich  the 
Jews  are  declared  to  have  been  willing  to  rejoice  in  his  light,  may 
be  considered  either  as  implying  reproach,  on  account  of  their  not 
having  continued  steadfast  in  their  regard  for  St.  John's  preach- 
ing, or  as  referring  to  the  short  continuance  of  his  ministry.  With 
its  particular  bearing,  howe\er,  the  present  design  in  selecting  the 
text  has  no  connexion.  The  \erse  refers  to  'a  burning  and  a  shining 
light,'  whose  bright  irradiations  were  a  source  of  joy — and  joy,  alas ! 
but  '  for  a  season . ' 

"Christian  brethren,  it  were  doing  violence  to  the  best  feelings  of 
your  hearts,  those  which,  in  the  order  of  Providence,  are  now  the 
most  absorbing,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  appro\ed  by  a  sound 
and  well  ordered  understanding,  were  I  longer  to  delay  that  appli- 
cation of  the  subject  which  your  affectionate  sorrows  loudly  claim. 
You  wish  to  call  home  every  errant  thought,  and  fix  your  minds 
wholly  and  undixidedly  on  the  melancholy  event  which  has  brought 
you  to  the  house  of  God.  When  the  words  of  my  text  first  met  your 
ears,  your  minds  reverted,  at  once,  to  a  burning  and  a  shining  light, 
which  has  been  —  not  extinguished — but  taken  from  us,  and  called 
to  mingle  w  ith  the  pure  splendour  of  perfect  day.  And  why  should 
we  weep  because  another  ardent  spirit  has  been  summoned  to  join 
the  ranks  of  those  who  cease  not,  day  nor  night,  in  rendering  homage 
to  Him  who  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb?  Wh)'  should 
we  weep  because  another  blessed  trophy  of  God's  grace  has  been 
added  to  the  number  of  the  sa\ed?  Why  should  \\e  weep  because 
another  soul,  purified  and  made  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  has 

:  ciiii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

been  called  to  adorn  itself  in  the  robes  of  celestial  righteousness"?  For 
these  things  we  weep  not.  We  w  eep  not  for  the  father  and  the  friend 
who  has  rested  from  his  toils,  his  anxieties,  and  his  sorrows.  We 
weep  not  that  a  good  and  faithful  ser^•ant  has  been  called  to  the  joy 
of  his  Lord.  We  weep  not  at  hea\en's  gain  :  but,  oh  !  we  do  w eep  at 
our  loss.  \\  e  weep,  because  a  burning  and  a  shining  light,  in  which 
we  had  so  long  been  wont  to  rejoice,  has  been  taken  from  us. 


"There  were  three  favourite  ejaculations  often  on  his  lips —  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  stnnei —  GocFs  will  be  done —  God  be  praised  for  all 
his  mercies. 

"  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner — the  effectual  fervent  prayer  which 
was  the  blessed  mean  of  justification  to  the  humble  and  contrite 
publican. 

"  God's  will  be  done — the  devout  ejaculation  of  our  Di\  ine  Exem- 
plar, in  the  days  of  his  suffering  humanity.  And  it  was  attended  with 
the  devout  prayer  that  he  might  not  say  this  only  because  he  must — 
because  God's  will  must  have  its  course;  but  that  he  might  feel  it; 
that  it  might  be  the  language  not  of  constraint,  but  of  his  heart — 
of  willing,  cheerful  resignation. 

"  God  be  praised  for  all  his  mercies.  If  'the  ruling  passion,''  so  also 
the  ruling  affections  and  dispositions,  are  'strong  in  death.'  All  who 
knew  our  beloved  Bishop  knew  that  the  praises  of  God  were  a  fa\  our- 
ite  employment,  to  which  his  heart  was  e\er  attuned,  and  in  which 
he  was  ever  happy  to  be  united  w  ith  a  band  of  Christian  worshippers. 
And  now,  that  he  saw  the  bright  inheritance  just  before  him,  and 
that  rest,  and  peace,  and  joy,  were  soon  to  succeed  his  labours,  his 
trials,  and  his  sufferings,  he  drew  fresh  strength  from  near  approach 
to  the  communion  of  the  just  made  perfect,  and  with  his  whole  soul, 
blessed  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies. 

"At  this  trying  moment,  as  ever,  his  religious  views  and  feelings 

were  built  on  the  onlv  sure  and  allowed  foundation  —  faith  in  the 

[  cliv  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  The  corner-stone  of  them  all,  the  doctrine 
of  the  Trinit}-,  presented  itself  to  his  mind  in  all  the  rich  fulness  of 
grace,  mercy,  and  truth.  He  found  in  it  comfort  and  support  which 
could  come  from  no  other  source.  He  clung  to  it,  as  that  which, 
only,  can  minister  to  the  wants  of  the  dying  Christian.  He  dwelt 
upon  it  as  the  most  glorious,  and  most  precious  of  God's  revelations. 
When  the  Di\  ine  Persons  were  separately  invoked  in  his  behalf, 
'  Oh ! '  he  exclaimed,  '  in  what  interesting  relations  does  this  doctrine 
represent  the  Deity  as  standing  to  his  people ! '  And  his  acquies- 
cence in  this  great  truth,  and  the  immense  value  which  he  set  upon 
it,  were  far  from  being  the  operations  of  a  weak,  a  deluded,  and  a 
superstitious  mind.  They  were  the  homage  of  an  intellect  as  high 
in  order,  and  as  rich  in  cultivation,  as  perhaps  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of 
man.  But  high  as  were  its  natural  powers,  and  extensive  as  was  its 
culti\ation,  he  knew  and  felt  it  to  be  but  the  intellect  of  tjian.  He 
appreciated  the  obvious  truth,  that  in  the  perfect  intelligence  of  the 
Deitv  there  must  be  a  capacity  infinitely  greater  than  in  any  human 
mind,  and  perfectly  equal  to  the  full  apprehension  of  truths,  however 
inexplicable  and  mjsterious  to  us.  He  felt,  too,  that  in  the  teaching 
of  God's  holy  word,  he  was  sure  to  be  safe,  and  therefore  received 
with  meekness  and  gratitude  all  that  it  reveals. 

"With  such  faith,  such  devotion,  and  such  piety,  our  revered  fa- 
ther entered  into  his  rest.  He  has  gone,  people  of  his  charge,  whither 
you  must  follow  him;  and  he  will  stand  where  you  must  meet  him, 
at  the  bar  of  impartial  justice.  What  account  can  you  then  render 
of  the  fidelity  with  which  you  have  waited  on  his  ministrations,  and 
the  impro\ement  which  30U  ha\ e  made  of  his  faithful  labours  in  your 
behalf?  Ask  this  question,  each  one  seriously  of  his  own  conscience. 
Ask  it,  on  bended  knees,  before  your  God.  Ask  it,  with  a  full  view 
of  the  momentous  consequences  which  rest  upon  a  faithful  answ  er. 
For  nearly  thirtj-  years  he  has  laboured  among  3011.  Many  blessed 
evidences  of  his  successful  lalx)ur  ha\e  been  afforded.  How  many 
shall  be  added  to  the  happy  number,  from  among  those  who  cannot 
C  civ  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

forget,  while  life  will  last,  how  zealously,  afiectionately,  and  indus- 
trioush',  he  sought  their  spiritual  and  eternal  welfare? 

"For  nearly  two  thirds  of  the  period  of  our  beloved  father's  minis- 
try, he  was,  my  re\  erend  brethren  of  this  diocese,  over  us  in  the  Lord; 
and  we  all  are  ^\•itnesses  with  what  fidelity  he  fulfilled  the  weighty 
trusts  of  his  high  office ;  what  a  glorious  pattern  of  earnestness  and 
de\otion  he  set  before  us;  how  well  he  knew,  and  how  zealously  he 
ad\'ocated  and  vindicated,  the  principles  of  our  holy  Church;  and 
how  successfully  he  pursued,  in  her  behalf,  what  his  well-informed 
and  well-regulated  judgment  satisfied  him  was  the  policy  the  most 
accordant  w  ith  her  interests,  and  Avith  the  interests  of  the  e^•er-blessed 
Gospel,  on  w  hose  account  he  loved  her  so  much,  cherished  her  so 
faithfull}^,  defended  her  so  valiantly,  and  laboured  so  industriously  in 
her  cause.  Oh!  we  have  had  privileges  and  blessings  in  our  connex- 
ion with  our  spiritual  father  of  the  choicest  and  most  elevated  char- 
acter. Forget  we  not,  therefore,  that  we  have  correspondent  weighty 
obligations  resting  upon  us.  Be  not  ours  the  guilt  of  godly  counsels 
neglected,  and  a  godl_v  example  unfollowed.  Under  the  softening  and 
chastening  influence  of  the  affliction  which  now  fills  our  hearts,  it  \\  ill 
be  well  to  renew  our  vows  of  ministerial  duty,  and  to  devote  oursehes, 
with  fresh  vigour,  to  the  work  whereunto  we  have  been  called.  Mel- 
ancholy is  the  reflection,  that,  besides  our  venerated  father,  six  of  our 
brethren  of  this  diocese  have  been  called  away  since,  less  than  a  year 
ago,  we  assembled  in  our  ecclesiastical  convention.  The  hoary  head, 
the  mature  in  years,  and  the  almost  youthful  fellow-servant  at  the 
altar,  have  been  taken  from  us.  We  are  spared  ;  but  God  only  knows 
how  long  we  shall  be. 

"What  shall  I  say  of  this  our  bereft  diocese?  Brethren,  it  is  im- 
possible for  words  to  express  what  we  of  the  diocese  most  acutely 
feel.  The  praise  of  our  late  head  is  in  every  church  ;  and  church- 
men of  other  dioceses,  and  the  religious  of  e\erv  name,  gi\e  us  their 
tenderest  condolence,  because  they  feel  and  know  that  a  greater  loss 
could  hardly  ha\e  been  sustained  hv  a  religious  body.  I  might  speak 

C  civi  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

of  an  activity  and  of  labours  almost  beyond  the  ordinary  strength  of 
man.  I  might  speak  of  an  energy,  a  quickness,  a  devotion,  of  men- 
tal pov\  ers,  perhaps  without  a  parallel.  I  might  refer  to  the  prompt- 
ness with  which  the  calls  of  duty  were  ever  answered,  at  the  most 
disinterested  sacrifice  of  comfort,  of  feeling,  and  of  the  ten  thousand 
considerations  which  would  have  stood  in  the  May  of  ordinarj- men. 
I  might  tell  of  the  nearly  threefold  increase  of  the  diocese  which  has 
blessed  the  labours  of  him  who  there  sleeps  in  silence.  I  might  call  on 
the  zealous  missionary,  or  the  faithful  parish  priest,  to  bear  testimony 
how  his  spiritual  father  has  encouraged,  aided,  and  co-operated  with 
him  in  his  labours ;  how  he  has  cheered  him,  w  hen  ready  to  despond  ; 
what  excellent  counsel  he  has  given  him  in  difficulties ;  and  how  he 
has  strengthened  his  hands,  when  he  began  to  yield  to  the  many  dis- 
couragements which  lie  in  the  way  of  the  minister  of  the  Gospel.  But, 
brethren,  why  should  I  do  this?  Your  hearts  anticipate  all  I  have  to  say, 
and  your  memories  crowd  proof  after  proof  on  your  minds.  Oh  !  let  us  be 
duly  thankful  for  the  rich  blessing  we  have  enjoyed,  and  humbly  pray, 
and  faithfully  strive,  that  it  may  not  be  lost ;  but  that  the  influence  of 
principles  so  correct,  a  policy  so  sound,  and  labours  so  abundant,  may 
be  maintained  and  strengthened ,  as  a  permanent  blessing  to  our  diocese. 
"But  this  diocese  is  far  from  being  alone  concerned  in  our  bereave- 
ment. A  voice  is  hushed  which  was  never  raised  in  the  ^e«ero/ coun- 
cils of  our  Church,  without  commanding  the  respect  and  influence 
to  which  it  was  every  way  entitled.  The  cause  of  pure  religion  has 
been  deprived  of  one  of  its  most  able  and  enlightened  advocates  and 
supporters.  Virtue  and  morality  lament  that  diligent  teaching  and  a 
uniform  example,  of  inestimable  value  to  their  interests,  are  no  more. 
Literature  and  science  have  bid  a  long  adieu  to  one  of  their  most 
faithful  and  judicious  friends.  And  every  interest  connected  with 
human  welfare,  and  the  elevation  of  the  human  character,  droops, 
in  melancholy  and  in  mourning,  over  the  ashes  of  one  who  well 
knew  how  they  might  best  be  promoted,  and  faithfully  and  indefati- 
gably  laboured  to  promote  them. 

C  civil  ;] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

"Over  those  venerated  ashes  let  devout  Christians  kneel,  and  meekly, 
and  resignedly  exclaiming  '  God''s  will  be  done,''  pray  devoutly  that 
his  grace  may  cause  the  affliction  of  this  day  of  sadness  to  work  for 
us  spiritual  good  here,  and  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory,  in  those  happy  regions  \\here  all  tears  will  be  wiped  from 
all  eyes,  where  there  will  be  no  more  sorrow,  sickness,  or  death, 
and  where  the  righteous  will  enjoy  perpetual  rest  and  felicity."  * 

The  burial  was  in  a  vault  beneath  the  chancel.  From  everj-  quarter 
of  the  Church  came  resolutions  of  sympathy,  and  in  many  churches 
memorial  sermons  were  preached.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Berrian,  on  the 
Sunday  after  the  burial,  preached  in  Trinity  Church  from  the  text: 
"How  unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding 
out!  "  Romans  xi.  33. 

"When  the  melancholy  event  which  now  occupies  all  our  thoughts 
was  broken  to  me,  and  the  first  burst  of  feeling  was  over,  this  pas- 
sage rushed  upon  my  mind,  mingling  wonder  and  awe  ^\  ith  agita- 
tion and  grief.  The  agents,  by  which  God  carries  on  his  plans  in  the 
improvement  and  salvation  of  his  creatures,  very  often  appear  in  our 
eyes  so  important  to  the  success  and  accomplishment  of  the  ^\•ork, 
that  we  not  onl}'  hope,  but  seem  to  look  for  the  prolongation  of  their 
days  till  they  have  reached  the  utmost  limit  of  their  usefulness.  V^e 
are  surprised  that  those  who  are  pre-eminently  fitted,  by  their  talents, 
piety,  and  worth,  to  adorn  and  bless  the  world,  and  to  promote  the 
glory  of  God,  should  be  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  their  labours;  whilst 
so  many  who  are  sluggish,  inactive,  and  unfruitful,  are  still  left 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  This  mysterious  part  of  the  arrange- 
ments of  Pro%'idence  often  leads  us  to  exclaim,  Horv  unsearchable  are 
his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding  out!  Never  has  the  sentiment 
been  impressed  more  strongly  on  my  mind,  than  at  this  time.  Within 
the  brief  space  of  a  few  weeks,  a  youthful  minister  of  the  sanctuary, f 
whose  cultivated  mind  was  like  the  polished  shaft  of  the  temple,  and 
whose  varied  talents  promised  to  be  an  ornament  and  treasure  to  the 

*  Schroeder's  Memorial,  pp.  5  and  6,  1 1  and  18.  fThe  Rev.  Edmund  D.  Griffin. 

[  clviii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Church  of  God,  was  suddenly  taken  from  us,  to  be  recei\ ed,  as  we 
trust,  in  the  Church  of  the  Urst-born,  and  to  render  'blessing  and 
honour  unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb, 
for  ever  and  ever.'  He  seemed  only  to  ha^e  lived  in  preparation  for 
his  work,  and  \\hen  all  were  looking  for  the  fruits  of  his  labours, 
their  hopes  were  blighted  fore\er.  And  now  another  of  the  most 
fa\  oured  servants  of  God  is  taken  hence,  who  had  long  been  engaged 
in  his  Master's  work ;  w  ho  united  the  highest  human  talents  with 
the  fervent  zeal  of  an  aposde,  and  consecrated  all  his  gifts  to  the  ser- 
vice of  Him  who  gave  them;  who,  if  we  were  to  judge  of  his  labours 
by  the  common  standard  of  usefulness,  had  filled  up  the  measure  of 
manv  li\  es,  and  the  verv  remnant  of  whose  days  would  have  been 
a  greater  blessing  to  the  Church  than  the  whole  existence  of  ordinary 
men.  Now,  indeed,  we  see  through  a  glass  darkly,  and  cannot  compre- 
hend these  things.  But  though  they  may  confound  our  judgment, 
they  do  not  shake  our  faith.  The  Author  and  Giver  of  life  knows 
best  \\ hen  it  should  be  taken  away;  and  when  we  come  to  see  things 
Jcice  to  face,  we  shall  imdoubtedly  perceive  his  wisdom  and  goodness 
as  clearly  displayed  in  the  most  mysterious  of  his  judgments,  as  in 
the  plainest  manifestations  of  his  mercy  and  love.  While  our  hearts 
then  are  pierced  \\ith  grief,  let  them  also  be  bo^\■ed  down  in  humble 
submission  to  his  will.  Right  dear  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death 
of  his  saints,  and  their  memory  is  blessed  among  men.  I  shall  indulge 
my  own  fond  feelings,  while  at  the  same  time  I  shall  gratify  yours,  by 
recalling  the  talents,  the  virtues,  the  piety,  and  worth,  which  gave  our 
dear  and  venerated  friend  such  claims  on  our  admiration  and  love. 


"At  times,  when  there  was  any  special  reason  for  excitement,  he 
united  all  the  dignity  and  force  of  manly  eloquence  with  the  sim- 
plicity and  tenderness  which  gave  such  a  charm  to  his  discourses 
in  earlier  years.  And  in  one  respect  he  surpassed  all  men  w  hom  I 
have  ever  heard.  Whatever  might  be  the  languor  of  his  bodv,  which 
C  clix  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

w  as  often  oppressed  by  disease,  or  the  state  of  his  spirits,  \\hich  w  ere 
still  more  frequentl}-  weighed  dou  n  by  care,  he  was  almost  always 
able  to  arouse  himself  from  his  hea\  iness,  to  throw  oft  his  anxieties 
and  troubles,  and  to  rise  to  that  degree  of  vehemence  and  passion, 
which  was  suitable  to  the  solemnity  and  importance  of  the  sacred 
truths  which  he  was  enforcing. 

"But  the  powers  of  his  mind,  though  \er_v  advantageously  dis- 
played in  the  public  exercises  of  his  ministry,  appeared  still  more 
remarkable  in  his  intercourse  with  mankind,  and  in  the  practical 
business  of  his  office,  and  of  life  in  general.  Here  his  habit  of  acting 
on  general  principles,  and  of  carrying  them  out  to  their  true  and  legit- 
imate consequences,  his  keen  and  ready  detection  of  any  departure 
from  these  principles,  the  happy  illustration  of  his  arguments,  the 
fertility  of  his  invention,  the  abundance  of  his  resources,  ga\e  him 
an  immense  superiority  o\er  men  of  loose  reasoning  and  luisettled 
minds.  The  soundness  of  his  thoughts,  whether  in  public  debate  or 
private  conversation,  was  aided  by  the  ease  and  fluency  of  his  ex- 
pression, and  no  one  lost  any  of  the  force  of  his  arguments  by  the 
w  ant  of  clearness  and  precision  in  his  language.  And  the  \  ery  occa- 
sions which  would  have  confounded  ordinary  men  and  embarrassed 
their  efforts,  seemed  always  to  rouse  his  energies  to  a  higher  pitch, 
and  to  make  him  rise  above  himself. 

"This  fitness  for  the  practical  business  of  life,  which  his  enlarged 
intercourse  with  the  world,  from  the  duties  of  his  Episco|)al  office  and 
his  connexion  with  many  literary  and  religious  institutions,  rendered 
every  day  more  striking,  increased  his  ascendancy  over  the  minds 
of  men.  We  should  not  notice  this  influence,  except  that  it  w  as  all 
exerted  for  the  interests  of  true  religion  and  virtue,  and  for  the  pro- 
motion of  sound  learning  in  connexion  w  ith  faith  and  piety. 

"And  here  let  me  remark,  that  he  was  thought  by  many  to  be  an 
ambitious  man,  who  mingled  too  much  of  human  pride  with  the 
high  and  holy  duties  of  his  calling.  He  was  ambitious,  but  his  am- 
bition was  the  noble  and  insatiable  desire  of  doing  good.  In  the  pur- 
C  clx  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

suit  of  this  object  he  set  no  limit  to  his  plans  ;  in  defending  and  pro- 
pagating the  truth  he  cared  not  whose  path  he  crossed  ;  in  guarding 
the  Church  against  its  outward  enemies  and  secret  foes,  he  was  thank- 
ful for  any  superiority  which  God  had  gi\en  him,  as  he  devoutly 
believed  it  redounded  to  his  glory. 

"But  for  his  own  sake,  whether  for  present  reputation  or  posthu- 
mous fame,  as  unconnected  with  the  promotion  of  the  temporal  and 
eternal  happiness  of  men,  he  was  not  ambitious.  He  stooped  to  the 
humblest  duties  of  his  calling  with  as  much  pleasure  as  he  engaged 
in  the  most  exalted.  Oneof  the  latest  and  most  admirable  of  the  works 
upon  \\ hich  he  bestowed  the  attention  of  his  powerful  mind,  was  a 
simple  Catechism  for  children,  and  it  was  compiled  with  so  much 
judgment,  arranged  with  so  much  order,  expressed  with  so  much 
clearness,  and  made  so  agreeable  in  every  part  to  scriptural  truth, 
that  I  never  teach  the  young  out  of  it,  without  feeling  instructed  my- 
self. He  composed  one  book,  which,  without  adding  to  his  literary 
reputation,  will  ever  be  the  commendation  of  his  piety,  that  has  fur- 
nished thousands  with  holy  thoughts  and  de\out  ejaculations  at  the 
altar,  and  that  will  continue  perhaps  to  excite  the  fervour  of  Chris- 
tian souls,  when  works  of  more  ambitious  pretensions  are  forgotten. 
The  'Festivals  and  Fasts,'  that  excellent  expositor  of  the  institutions 
of  the  Church  and  summary  of  Christian  doctrine,  the  'Christian's 
Manual,'  the  'Clergyman's  Companion,'  the  'Commentary  on  the 
Bible,'  were  all  prepared  wdth  much  labour  and  care,  and  without 
any  view  to  the  reputation  of  authorship  or  pecuniary  reward.  In  the 
revision,  improvement,  and  enlargement  of  these  works,  he  kept  a 
single  eye  to  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  the  promotion  of  piet}-,  and 
the  advancement  of  sound  doctrine  among  men.  The  only  original 
work  of  any  extent  in  which  he  was  ever  engaged,  his  'Apology  for 
Primitive  Order,'  together  with  all  his  other  controversial  pieces,  were 
written  with  a  simple  view  of  defending  the  truth  against  the  misrepre- 
sentations of  error.  If  the  time  which  he  spent  in  these  unostentatious 
but  useful  labours  had  been  employed  with  more  selfish  and  ambi- 

r  cixi  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

tious  ends,  it  might  ha\e  gained  for  him  an  enviable  pre-eminence 
among  literary  men.  What  a  striking  proof  of  his  humilitA  and  faith  ! 
To  all  his  other  remarkable  qualifications  our  revered  Bishop  added 
a  zeal  which  was  never  quenched,  an  industry  which  never  tired,  an 
activity  which  the  hand  of  death  alone  could  arrest.  It  was  remark- 
able to  observe,  amidst  the  m  eightier  duties  of  his  Episcopal  office, 
^\  hat  a  deep  interest  he  felt  in  the  humble  concerns  of  his  parochial 
charge.  He  was  always  considering  in  what  way  its  prosperity  might 
be  promoted  ;  he  mourned  over  the  indifference  of  the  lukew  arm,  and 
rejoiced  at  every  indication  among  its  members  of  vital  godliness  and 
enlightened  zeal. 


"But  this  zeal  was  shown  in  every  way,  by  his  faithful  and  laborious 
preaching,  by  his  fostering  care  of  our  Sunday  schools,  by  his  mi- 
nute attention  to  the  affairs  of  all  our  societies,  and  his  happiness 
at  every  evidence  of  their  success,  by  his  unceasing  watchfulness 
over  the  diocese  committed  to  his  care,  and  his  constant  anxiety  for 
the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  at  large.  He  was  almost  as 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  every  parish  in  the 
state  as  with  the  condition  of  his  own,  and  his  restless  and  acti\e 
mind  was  continually  employed  in  promoting  their  temporal  and  spir- 
itual good.  His  industry  was  almost  without  a  parallel;  and  I  think 
that  I  shall  hardly  be  accused  of  exaggeration  in  expressing  my  own 
opinion,  that  perhaps  no  bishop,  of  any  age  or  nation,  since  the  time 
of  the  apostles,  has  surpassed  him  in  zeal,  activity,  diligence,  and  the 
success  of  his  labours. 

"And  indeed,  melancholy  as  was  his  separation  from  his  family  and 
so  many  of  his  dearest  friends  at  the  time  of  his  death,  yet  it  would 
seem  as  if  God  in  his  providence  had  so  ordered  it  that  he  should  die 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  as  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  close  to 
a  life  which  had  been  entirely  spent  in  his  service. 

"When  we  consider  the  rare  union  of  those  qualities  which  pre- 
[  clxii  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

eminently  fitted  him  for  the  responsible  duties  of  that  exalted  station 
which  he  so  long  and  advantageously  filled — when  we  consider  his 
rational,  but  simple,  fervent,  unaffected  piety,  the  purity  of  his  life, 
the  warmth  and  tenderness  of  his  social  affections,  the  frankness 
and  generosity  of  his  nature,  which  atoned  for  all  his  infirmities  and 
faults,  and  all  the  virtues  and  graces  which  made  him  so  dear  to  us 
individually  and  the  whole  Church  of  God — we  cannot  help  lament- 
ing, in  the  bitterness  of  our  hearts,  our  irreparable  loss.  Oh,  may  we 
never  forget  the  instructions  which  he  has  given  us,  his  holy  coun- 
sels, his  tender  expostulations,  his  godly  reproofs !  May  e\ery  good 
feeling,  and  every  de\out  affection,  which  he  at  any  time  may  ha\e 
been  the  means  of  exciting  in  us,  be  revi\ed  in  all  its  force,  that 
we  may  have  reason  to  bless  his  ministry,  and  he  to  look  upon  us  as 
the  crown  of  his  ?-ejoicirig/''^  * 

From  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Mayhew  Wainw  right, 
then  rector  of  Grace  Church,  Ne\v  York,  afterward  Provisional 
Bishop  of  New  York,  from  the  text:  "We  have  this  treasure  in 
earthen  vessels,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God,  and 
not  of  us"  (II  Corinthians  iv.  7),  this  estimate  by  one  who  was  an 
excellent  judge  of  character  is  taken  : 

"When  a  friend  is  summoned  from  amongst  us,  they  who  knew 
and  loved  him  will  pause  upon  his  newly-co\ered  graAC,  and  recall 
those  features  and  expressions  \\  hich  marked  the  emotions  of  his  soul 
and  mind;  and  they  will  dwell,  too,  with  a  melancholy  satisfaction 
upon  those  moral  lineaments  which  were  distinctive  of  his  character. 
In  this  mournful  employment  our  sorrows  are  alleviated,  while,  by 
its  salutary  influence,  our  hearts  are  made  better.  And  this,  which  is 
a  resource  and  solace  in  private  domestic  affliction,  belongs  to  us  also 
as  members  of  a  community,  when  we  are  deprived  of  its  benefactors 
and  distinguished  ornaments.  How  much  more  when,  as  members  of 
a  Church,  we  are  called  to  mourn,  should  we  affectionately  and  grate- 
fully remember  them  which  have  had  the  nde  over  its,  who  have  spoken 

*  Schroeder's  Memorial,  p.  21. 

C  clxiii  3 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

unto  us  the  word  of  God!  I  would  now  draw  you,  mv  lirethren,  to  such 
solemn  meditation.  I  would  recall  to  you  our  departed  Bishop,  that 
once  more  you  may  behold  him  ere  his  mortal  remains  ha\e  quite  de- 
cayed beneath  that  altar,  and  ere  we  ha\  e  well  realized  that  we  can  see 
his  face  no  more;  because  he  hath  assumed  the  garments  of  immortal- 
ity, and  commenced  his  joyful  intercourse  w  ith  the  redeemed.  Let  us 
think  of  him  then  ;  and  in  this  place,  and  on  this  sacred  day,  he  w  ill 
first  be  brought  to  our  minds  in  those  public  official  duties,  in  which 
he  chiefly  delighted,  which  he  performed  \\ith  such  distinguished 
excellence  and  success,  and  in  which  it  was  our  enviable  pri\ilege 
often  to  behold  him.  With  M'hat  ardent  lo\  e  for  the  souls  of  men  did 
he  enter  the  sacred  desk,  and  diere  put  forth  the  energies  of  his  mind, 
and  the  affections  of  his  heart,  to  speak  of  the  things  which  make  for 
our  eternal  peace  !  The  sounds  of  his  animated  and  pathetic  eloquence 
have  hardly  yet  ceased  from  our  ears,  and  his  energy  and  grace  of 
expression  ^ve  can  yet  see  in  the  picture  of  our  minds.  As  a  preacher  of 
the  Gospel,  he  was  powerful  and  convincing,  and  its  peculiar  doctrines 
he  exhibited  in  a  faithful  and  uncompromising  spirit.  He  shunned  not 
to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  The  fall  and  corruption  of  man — 
the  Trinity  of  Persons  in  the  Unityof  theGodhead — the  atonement  for 
sin  by  the  death  and  sacrifice  of  Christ — our  restoration  to  the  favour 
of  God  through  faith  alone  in  the  merits  of  the  Di\ine  Redeemer  and 
sanctification  of  the  Holy  Spirit — the  means  of  grace,  as  promised  and 
conveyed  in  the  sacraments  of  the  Church  of  the  living  God,  the 
pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth,  which  he  purchased  with  his  blood  — 
the  second  ad\ent  of  Christ  to  judgement,  when  we  must  all  appear 
before  him,  and  be  received  into  eternal  bliss,  or  be  consigned  to  eter- 
nal wo,  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body — these  were  the  sacred 
themes  upon  which  he  dwelt  with  faithful  constancy.  Nor  did  he  fail 
to  explain  and  inculcate  the  moral  duties,  and  to  enforce  the  precepts 
of  religious  wisdom  as  applied  to  all  the  relations  of  man,  with  which 
the  Scriptures  abound,  and  to  which  our  blessed  Saviour's  sermon  on 
the  mount  was  devoted.  But  then,  in  this  department  of  the  preacher's 
C  clxiv  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

duty,  he  was  not  the  cold  and  formal  expounder  of  ethics  derived  from 
heathen  philosophy,  and  slightly  modified  and  confirmed  by  the  Gos- 
pel— No;  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gosjjel  he  proclaimed  all  its  truths, 
doctrinal  as  well  as  moral ;  and  moral  obedience  was  enforced  upon 
the  groimd  of  faith,  and  its  attainment  \\  as  encouraged  through  the 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  helping  our  infirmities,  and  given  in 
answer  to  constant  fervent  prayer. 

"i\gain  Ave  remember  him,  as,  in  the  robes  of  his  sacred  office,  he 
stood  before  the  altar,  to  lay  his  hands  and  invoke  his  solemn  bless- 
ing upon  those  presented  for  the  holy  rite  of  confirmation.  With  what 
dignit}-,  solemnity,  and  feeling,  were  the  sacred  fimctions  performed ! 
and  how  animated  and  affectionate  A\"as  the  exhortation  with  which 
he  was  accustomed  to  conclude  this  most  interesting  service  of  our 
Church!  Indeed,  in  all  the  public  services  of  the  Church  he  engaged 
with  an  heartfelt  interest,  which  e\erywhere  and  at  all  times  excited 
a  devout  attention ;  and  thus  even  the  outward  ministration  promoted 
our  spiritual  edification  and  comfort. 

"LeaA'ing  the  temple  of  the  Lord  and  its  holy  employments,  we 
must  recall  his  image  when  divested  of  his  sacred  functions,  and  en- 
gaged in  social  intercourse.  Who  that  upon  these  occasions  has  once 
beheld  him,  will  not  remember,  and,  alas!  weep  at  remembering — 
now  to  be  seen,  and  heard,  and  felt  no  more — his  kind  expressive 
smile,  the  cheerful  accents  of  his  Aoice,  the  quick  and  friendly  pres- 
sure of  his  hand !  How  earnest,  cheerful,  and  engaging,  \\  ere  his 
powers  of  couAcrsation  !  and  how  ready  and  unaffected  was  his  inter- 
est in  all  that  concerned  the  happiness  and  welfare  of  his  friends ! 
Actively  as  he  was  engaged  in  public  duty,  and  in  those  various  con- 
cerns by  which  he  thought  the  best  interests  of  society  were  advanced , 
yet  he  was  ready  to  participate  in  those  innocent  relaxations  by  \\  hich 
its  cares  are  alleviated.  In  public  the  eloquent  preacher  and  the  dig- 
nified prelate;  in  private  he  became  the  warm  friend,  the  cheerful, 
instructive,  and  condescending  companion. 

' '  To  present  to  you  the  characteristic  features  of  his  mind  in  full 
C  clxv   '] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

delineation,  would  require  a  larger  space  than  could  be  filled  in  the 
brief  time  allotted  to  our  meditations,  and  Avould  demand  the  pencil 
of  a  master  hand.  But  this  imperfect  sketch  can  hardly  fail  to  show- 
some  of  the  stronger  marks  of  resemblance  in  a  character  so  open  and 
so  uniform.  No  one  could  have  known  him,  even  casualh',  without 
a  full  conviction  that  he  possessed  a  heart  as  warm  and  as  suscep- 
tible of  all  kind  affections  as  ever  rested  in  a  human  bosom,  and  that 
his  powers  of  intellect  were  of  the  highest  order  of  excellence,  and 
were  equal  to  grasping  in  all  its  parts,  and  exhibiting  in  their  just 
development,  any  subject  to  which  their  attention  was  directed.  With 
a  quickness  that  seemed  like  intuition,  could  he  see  the  comparati\e 
force  of  arguments,  and  where  their  strength  or  weakness  lay.  And 
this  gift  of  discrimination,  which  he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree, 
was  rendered  still  more  effective  b}^  his  power  of  carrying  plans  and 
arguments  into  rapid  and  efficient  execution.  Active  in  body  as  in 
mind,  prompt  in  judgement,  decided  and  firm  of  purpose,  perse\ering 
in  exertion,  his  efforts  were  indeed  triumphant.  To  these  intellectual 
and  moral  properties  are  we  to  ascribe  the  \\onderful  degree  of  pros- 
perity which  always  crowned  his  path  in  public  life.  Discriminating, 
decided,  active,  zealous,  his  integrity  unstained  and  unsuspected,  the 
evidences  of  a  single  heart  strongly  exhibited  in  his  countenance,  his 
words,  his  manner,  differences  of  opinion  almost  uniformly  gave  way 
before  him;  and  where  there  was  yet  indecision,  the  conviction  of  his 
sincere  and  ardent  zeal  would  often  produce  a  conquest  of  the  will, 
if  not  a  full  assent  of  the  judgement. 

"These  vigorous  powers  of  the  mind,  and  sterling  \irtues  of  the 
heart,  were  by  him  sacredly  devoted  to  one  grand  absorbing  object. 
The  Church  of  the  Living  God,  exhibiting  '  Evangelical  Truth  united 
WITH  Apostolical  Order.'  To  this  he  was  devoted,  body,  soul,  and 
mind  ;  for  this  he  would  have  sacrificed  e\'erv  earthly  object,  and  to 
promote  its  interests  he  would  willingly  ha%e  resigned  his  life.  In  this 
\ie\v  of  his  character,  his  death  was  appointed  bv  a  wise  Pro\  idence, 
with  a  coincidence  of  circumstances  at  once  striking  and  affecting. 
[  clxvi  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

He  died  upon  the  field,  carrying  foruard  the  banners  of  sahation, 
and  in  the  hearing  of  the  triumph  of  the  Redeemer's  cause.  Upon 
the  field  he  died — and  with  the  whole  armour  buckled  on — the 
breast-plate  of  righteousness,  the  helmet  of  sahation,  the  shield  of 
faith,  the  sword  of  the  Spirit.  Yes!  Warrior  and  Champion  of  the 
Redeemer's  cause,  thou  hast  fought  a  good  fight,  thou  hast  kept  the 
faith  ;  thy  soul  departed  on  the  field  of  thy  Gospel  triumph  ;  thy  hon- 
oured body  now  reposes  beneath  the  altar  of  thy  God  ;  henceforth  there 
is  a  crown  of  glory  laid  up  for  thee,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous 
Judge,  shall  gi\  e  thee  at  that  day.  We  will  revere  thy  memory  —  we 
will  emulate  thy  virtues — we  will  pay  thee  the  homage  of  grief  un- 
feigned: and  those  frailties  which  are  ine\  itably  combined  with  human 
nature — oh!  we  have  forgotten  thine — the  constellation  of  thy  virtues 
and  thy  excellencies  have  quenched  their  dull  light — thou  shinest 
before  us  a  rich  treasure,  and  thy  earthen  vessel  is  to  us  only  the  mor- 
tality \\ith  \vhich  thou  ^^•ast  invested :  thy  spirit  has  gone  to  God  who 
ga^'e  it ;  and  Avashed  in  the  blood  of  the  atonement,  and  sanctified  by 
the  Spirit  of  grace,  we  think  of  thee  non*  as  in  the  blessed  company 
of  those  who  stand  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and 
palms  in  their  hands,  and  singing  salvation  to  our  God  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever."* 

The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Edward  Wyatt,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Baltimore,  one  of  the  Bishop's  theological  class,  paid  a  loving  tribute 
in  a  sermon  from  the  text :  ' '  His  heart  trembled  for  the  ark  of  God. " 
I  Samuel  iv.  13. 

"He  believed  the  Church,  the  Ark  of  God,  to  be  endangered  in 
its  puritv  and  influence  by  two  opposite  descriptions  of  error ;  and 
against  those  he  directed  the  force  of  his  vigorous  and  enthusiastic 
mind.  First,  he  entertained  the  deepest  apprehension  of  the  effects 
upon  the  general  influence  of  Christianity,  of  the  somewhat  popular 
system  inculcating  'partial  redemption.'  In  his  controversial  A\rit- 
ings  no  topic  aroused  him  to  as  great  a  degree  of  pathos  and  en- 

*  Schroeder's  Memtiriul,  p.  82. 

[  clxvii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

ergy  as  the  promise  of  iiiii\ersal  pardon  to  the  penitent,  through  a 
Saviour's  blood.  No  speculative  error  called  forth  a  language  of  as 
stern  reprobation  as  that  which  portrays  the  Almighty  Father  doom- 
ing the  helpless  creatures  of  his  hand  to  an  inevitable  perdition.  The 
opposition  which  his  'Companion  to  the  Altar,'  and  some  other  of 
his  earliest  productions,  recei\ed  from  eminent  Calvinistic  divines, 
unavoidably  drew  from  him  an  exhibition  of  the  tendency  of  their 
system ;  and  he  appeared  aluays  to  feel  that  he  was  defending  the 
vital  interests  of  Christianity,  in  showing  its  hostility  to  tenets  which 
are  revolting  to  the  honest  and  amiable  convictions  of  the  heart. 
How  just  does  it  appear  to  attribute  the  melancholy  predominance  of 
Sociniansm  in  the  New-England  states  to  the  re-action  \\  hich  the 
austere  principles  of  the  Puritans  had  produced?  What  can  more 
surely  subserve  the  cause  of  infidelity,  than  those  views  of  the  Gos- 
pel which,  though  sometimes  regarded  as  peculiar  indications  of 
vital  piety,  exhibit  as  gloomy,  and  vengeful,  and  despotic,  the  Being 
whom  the  Scriptures  denominate  '  Love  '  ? 

"Not  less  anxious  was  Bishop  Hobart  to  exhibit  Christianity  as 
a  system  awakening  the  strongest  affections  of  our  nature.  From  the 
unimpassioned  faith  of  the  moralist,  from  the  heartless  speculations 
of  the  philosophizing  believer,  from  the  barren  routine  of  Pharisai- 
cal ceremonies  and  exercises,  both  his  principles  and  feelings  caused 
him  to  revolt.  And  while,  with  a  trembling  solicitude,  he  guarded 
the  Gospel  from  the  reproach  of  fanaticism  on  the  one  hand,  he  was 
not  less  zealous  to  cherish  a  spirit  of  impassioned  devotion  on  the 
other.  How  obviouslv  were  the  duties  of  his  ministry  sustained  by 
the  deep  impulses  of  feeling,  as  well  as  by  the  obligations  of  his 
office !  How  incontestably  were  the  truths  which  he  proclaimed  the 
consolations  of  his  heart,  as  well  as  the  convictions  of  his  under- 
standing! Himself  the  man  of  science,  the  companion  of  the  most 
distinguished  professional  men  in  the  wide  district  o^er  which  he 
presided,  he  carried  to  the  altar,  in  their  presence,  the  homage  of 
the  most  grateful  and  reverential  worship.  It  was  his  practical  'con- 
[[  clxviii  ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

fession  before  men,'  that  that  deserves  not  the  name  of  Christian- 
ity,— can  never  prove  a  'justifying  faith,'  which,  content  with  the 
speculations  of  the  closet,  refuses  its  lowliest  adorations  before  the 
cross  of  the  Redeemer. 

"There  \\as  vet,  however,  another  characteristic  feature  in  the 
ministry  of  the  deceased  Prelate,  which  illustrates  the  justice  of  the 
application  of  the  words  of  the  text.  He  entertained  the  highest  rev- 
erence for  the  authority  of  the  institutor  in  the  outward  ordinances  of 
the  Gospel;  and  'he  trembled  for  the  ark  of  God,'  when  he  beheld 
the  supine  indifference,  or  the  infidel  boldness,  \\ith  which  the  lib- 
eralism of  the  present  day  A\"ould  set  aside  as  trivial,  what  God  has 
vouchsafed  to  consecrate  and  defend.  I  ha\e  remarked,  that  there 
was  about  him  at  all  times,  and  it  will  be  seen  accompanying  him 
with  an  affecting  lustre  in  his  latest  dying  hour,  a  warmth  of  spirit 
utterly  incompatible  with  \\hat  we  denominate  Formality.  But  yet 
there  was  never  one  who  maintained  a  more  consistent,  manly, 
decided  defence  of  the  forms  of  religion,  and  of  all  the  outward  in- 
stitutions bv  ^^■hich  its  graces  are  administered.  The  indispensable 
character  of  the  apostolic  priesthood ;  the  necessity  of  an  unbroken 
succession  ;  the  efficacy  of  sacraments ;  the  incomparable  excellence  of 
the  liturgy  of  the  Church  ;  the  danger  and  criminality  of  a  temporiz- 
ing policy  in  these  things;  the  sacred  obligation  of  vows  of  conform- 
ity and  obedience  taken  at  the  ordination  of  the  priesthood  :  these  -w  ere 
points  \\hich  he  hesitated  not  to  recommend  with  all  the  force  of  his 
mind,  and  to  insist  upon  with  all  the  authority  of  his  office.  And  he 
alleged  that  the  Church  of  our  fathers  has  more  to  fear  from  indiffer- 
ence among  ourselves  to  these  considerations,  and  from  a  desire  to  pro- 
pitiate popular  favour  by  withholding  them,  than  from  the  open  hos- 
tility of  contending  sects.  Out  of  opposite  views  on  these  subjects,  the 
maintenance  of  which  belongs  emphatically  to  the  Church  that  he 
so  ablv  served,  ha\e  grown  all  the  evils  of  disunion,  all  the  distrust 
that  others  have  been  led  to  entertain  of  the  spirituality  and  efficacy  of 
our  doctrines,  and  all  the  retarded  progress  in  numbers  and  influence 
[  clxix  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

which  must  attend  'a  house  divided  against  itself.'  That  the  Epis- 
copal Church  is  an  ecclesiastical  bod\-  holding  distinctive  principles; 
that  the  maintenance  of  these  is  compatible  with  the  exercise  of  the 
kindest  charities  towards  others  entertaining  different  views ;  that  an 
attempt  to  obliterate  these  distinctive  features,  or  to  amalgamate,  by 
a  forced  external  association  of  sects,  where  there  are  known  to  be  oppo- 
site tastes,  principles,  and  habits,  can  only  end  in  \vider  alienation  and 
personal  hostility ;  and  that  each  denomination  of  believers,  honestly 
pursuing  its  own  sacred  objects  in  its  own  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
way,  is  most  likely  to  promote  inward  piety  and  a  general  dissemina- 
tion of  the  Gospel :  these  are  principles,  the  adoption  of  which,  in  his 
sober,  practical  wisdom  and  long  experience,  he  believed  essential  to 
the  prosperity  of  the  Church.  And  '  he  trembled  for  the  ark  of  God  ' 
when  he  discovered  the  influence  of  a  foreign  spirit,  or  the  love  of 
change;  respect  for  the  caprices  of  public  opinion,  or  the  frivolity  of 
those  who,  caring  not  for  the  principles  of  the  Gospel,  seek  only  the 
gratification  of  their  taste  in  offices  of  worship,  insinuating  themselves 
into  the  bosom  of  the  Church.  Such  are  those  characteristic  principles 
in  the  ministry  of  this  eminent  Father  of  the  Church. 


' '  Of  the  fascination  of  his  ordinary  deportment  in  society,  of  the  kind- 
ness and  cordiality  of  his  uniform  manner,  of  his  frank  and  manly 
avowal  of  his  sentiments,  none  could  fail  to  be  conscious,  upon  the 
slightest  acquaintance  with  him.  But  the  power  and  tenderness  of  his 
social  affections  could  not  be  as  generally  known.  Incapable  of  cher- 
ishing unamiable  feelings  towards  his  most  inveterate  assailants,  he 
gave  to  the  friends  of  his  bosom  an  enthusiastic  regard.  While  to  the 
ffock  of  Christ  he  was  a  Chief  Shepherd,  in  \  igilance,  tenderness,  and 
efficiency,  to  the  pastors  of  it  he  united  the  kindness  of  a  brother  M'ith 
paternal  solicitude  and  care;  'holding  up  the  weak,  healing  the  sick, 
binding  up  the  broken,  bringing  again  the  outcasts,  seeking  the  lost.' 
Hearing  that  one  of  his  clergy,  a  man  of  plain  understanding  but 
C  clxx  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

genuine  worth,  in  a  country  parish,  was  esteemed  dangerously  ill,  he 
immediately  procured  a  conveyance  to  him,  administered  with  his 
own  hands  the  last  offices  of  religion,  and  lea\  ing  the  chamber  of  the 
dying  priest,  the  Bishop  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  was  unable  for 
some  time  to  control  his  emotion.  Meeting  a  young  man  who,  o\\  ing 
to  the  Bishop  his  earliest  religious  impressions,  had  gone  on  success- 
fully in  theological  studies  until  he  obtained  admission  to  the  ministry, 
and  observing  him  for  the  first  time  arrayed  in  the  dress  of  the  sacred 
order,  he  cast  his  arms  about  him  rejoicing,  and  embraced  him  \\  ith 
the  most  affectionate  sensibility.  In  domestic  life  he  was  simple,  cheer- 
ful, unaffected ;  claiming  no  peculiar  privileges,  mindful  of  the  grati- 
fication of  all.  But,  thus  unostentatious  in  his  natural  temperament, 
singularly  rapid  in  his  conceptions  of  a  subject,  and  always  conscious 
of  a  pressure  of  important  duty,  his  usual  deportment  was  marked 
rather  with  force  than  dignity  —  with  a  sense  of  the  accountability, 
than  of  the  stateliness  of  his  office.  In  his  public  ministrations,  how- 
ever, especially  those ^\•hich  belonged  to  the  Episcopal  chair,  gra\ity 
chastened  his  fervour,  and  a  spirit  of  devotion  hallowed  the  impressive- 
ness  of  his  eloquence.  His  mind  knew  no  repose.  Being  upon  some 
occasion  interrupted,  during  a  few  days  in  his  active  duties,  by  in- 
disposition, it  was  afterwards  ascertained  by  a  friend,  that,  notwith- 
standing the  languor  and  suifering  of  the  period,  he  had  explored  on 
his  bed  se\eral  volumes  of  considerable  bulk.  And  when  engaged  in 
visitations  of  his  diocese,  the  extent  of  country  over  which  he  tra\  elled, 
the  labour  which  he  sustained  in  more  than  daily  preachings,  the 
various  parochial  concerns  which  he  would  direct  and  arrange  for  his 
clergy,  and  his  untiring  cheerfulness  and  vivacity  in  all,  have  been 
the  subjects  of  universal  astonishment."  * 

From  distant  South  Carolina  came  the  voice  of  sorrow  mingling 
with  that  of  the  Bishop's  own  flock.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Christopher 
Edwards  Gadsden,  rector  of  St.  Philip's  Church,  Charleston,  after- 
Avard  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  preached  a  discriminating  sermon  from 

*  Schroeder's  Memorial,  p.  208. 

[_  clxxi  ~] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  text:  "Know  ye  not  that  there  is  a  prince  and  a  great  man 
fallen  this  day  in  Israel?"  II  Samuel  iii.  38.  In  the  course  of  it  he 
says : 

"If  his  mind  was  not  as  exact  in  all  its  conclusions  as  that  of  some 
others,  we  should  remember,  that  while  they  were  meditating,  the 
occasion  for  using  the  decision  was  perhaps  gone  by.  Nice  discrimi- 
nation is  a  high  gift,  and  incomparably  valuable  on  some  occasions  ; 
but  there  are  other  occasions,  in  which  a  capacity  for  prompt  decision, 
in  the  main  correct,  is  still  more  useful.  Happy  the  Church  which 
can  number  among  its  governors,  men  as  were  Peter,  and  John,  and 
Paul,  of  different  mental  qualifications,  all  applicable  to  the  various 
occasions  which  may  be  expected  to  call  for  their  use !  Quickness  of  per- 
ception, fertility  of  invention,  dexterity  in  improving  an  opportunitv, 
and  energy  of  action,  were  prominent  characteristics  of  his  mind.  To 
an  executive  officer  no  qualities  can  be  more  important.  It  was  there- 
fore remarked,  that,  however  successful  his  efforts  in  the  pulpit,  and 
in  controversial  and  other  writings,  his  talents  eminently  fitted  him 
for  government.  A  knowledge  of  human  nature,  acquired  more  from 
intercourse  with  men  than  from  books,  contributed  not  a  little  to  his 
success  in  this  department. 


"His  knowledge  was  not  a  great  library,  for  which  a  man  might  have 
occasion  only  once  or  twice  in  the  course  of  a  long  life,  fitted  less  for 
use  than  to  create  admiration,  perhaps  en\y,  of  its  possessor,  and  too 
often  encumbering  him,  and  crushing  his  natural  energies ;  but  it  was 
knowledge  calculated  to  develope  his  own  resources,  and  strictly  prac- 
tical— just  such  as  was  needful  and  useful,  and  ornamental  to  one 
who  was  a  preacher  to  mixed  audiences,  and  a  Bishop  of  a  Church 
as  yet  in  an  infantile  state,  with  its  institutions  not  mcU  settled. 
Systematic  theology.  Church  polity,  and  pulpit  eloquence,  were  the 
subjects  to  which  his  studies  had  chiefly  been  directed,  and  ^ith 
which  he  Mas  thoroughly  acquainted.  Of  his  skill  in  imparting  know- 
[^  clxxii  ~\ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

ledge,  the  best  evidence  is  the  adoption,  to  so  great  an  extent,  and 
more  particularly  in  his  own  large  diocese,  of  his  views  on  points 
of  tlieology  respecting  which  Christians  have  been  so  much  divided. 
The  fruits  of  his  genius  and  studies  (may  I  not  sav  the  first  fruits,  for 
he  came  into  the  ministry  at  an  early  age?)  he  brought  as  an  ofta'ing 
to  the  Lord,  and  laid  them  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  It  \\  as  obviously 
his  chief  desire  and  pursuit  to  do  good  to  the  house  of  God,  and 
in  the  offices  thereof.  The  prosperity  of  the  Church,  the  ability  of 
its  ministers,  the  enlargement  of  its  borders,  the  orthodoxy  of  its 
members  generally — these  were  the  articles  of  intelligence  most  wel- 
come to  his  heart,  which  could  most  brightly  light  up  his  counte- 
nance. For  Christ  and  the  Church,  was  the  motto  of  his  life.  His 
conversation,  vmless  indeed  it  was  led  by  others — and  it  was  not 
often  that  it  was  led — was  seldom  on  any  subject  unconnected  with 
religion.  It  was  impossible  to  be  with  him  and  not  perceive,  or  to 
live  near  him  and  not  know,  that  he  had  a  single  eye  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  sacred  cause,  and  that  he  was  absorbed,  in  a  degree 
which  was  seldom  equalled,  by  this  great  subject.  In  Europe,  whither 
he  went  for  the  recovery  of  his  health,  his  mind  seemed  scarcely 
to  turn  aside  to  the  new  scenes  around  him.  Antiquities,  and  the 
curiosities  of  nature  and  art,  had  but  a  passing  glance.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  cultivating  the  acquaintance  of  learned  and  pious  divines, 
investigating  the  state  of  the  Church,  and  gathering  up  information 
which  would  subserve  his  clerical  usefulness  on  his  return ;  and  the 
sermon  with  which  he  greeted  his  flock,  was  a  valuable  vindication 
(the  result  of  his  own  comparison  of  the  opposite  systems  of  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain)  of  religious  liberty,  and  replete  with 
wholesome  advice  to  his  Christian  brethren  in  both  hemispheres. 


"Merit,  like  water,  it  has  been  well  observed,  will  find  its  own 
level.  The  extraordinary  merit  of  the  deceased  at  an  early  age  re- 
moved him  from  a  village  to  the  largest  congregation  in  the  city  of 
[^  clxxiii  3 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

New -York ;  and  on  the  first  xacancy  after  he  had  reached  the  ca- 
nonical age,  w  hen  he  was  only  thirty-six  years  old,  he  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  largest  of  our  dioceses — which  contains  nearly 
one-fourth  of  the  \\  hole  number  of  our  clergy.  In  ecclesiastical  pre- 
cedence founded  on  the  date  of  consecration,  he  stood  next  to  our 
senior  Bishop.  To  him  wsls  chiefly  committed  the  care  of  the  most 
important  institution,  our  General  Theological  Seminary  ;  for  he  \vas 
not  only  a  Professor  in  it,  but,  as  the  Bishop  in  whose  diocese  it  is 
located,  practically  its  Go^•ernor. 

"These  elevated  stations  gave  full  scope  to  his  abilities,  and  claimed 
services  which  called  for  much  self-denial,  patience,  and  exertion.  Few 
men  could  have  fulfilled  his  many,  diversified,  arduous  duties  so 
well,  for  few  have  the  requisite  physical  and  mental  qualifications.  The 
Divine  Author  of  his  endowments,  who  by  his  providence  brought 
him  into  the  sphere  in  which  he  moved,  by  his  grace  fanned  his  zeal, 
and  crowned  it  with  success.  At  his  accession  to  the  Episcopate,  the 
diocese  numbered  forty-five,  and  at  his  death  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  clergymen;  thus  increasing  in  nineteen  years  nearly  threefold. 
Every  year  new  churches  were  springing  up  in  that  fertile  west, 
where,  on  a  tour  of  Episcopal  duty,  he  met  the  disease  which  termi- 
nated in  his  death.  Rapid  as  was  the  growth  of  the  Church,  it  was 
still  greatly  retarded  by  the  want  of  ministers.  How  pathetically,  in 
his  annual  addresses,  does  he  lament  the  scarcity  of  labourers  in  a 
field  already  white  for  the  har^•est !  How  earnestly  does  he  appeal  to 
piet}'  to  supply  the  men  for  the  service  of  the  altar,  and  to  charity 
to  furnish  the  means  for  their  education !  How  judicious  the  plans  of 
his  devising,  for  calling  forth  the  resources  of  each  congregation  in 
aid  of  theological  education ;  and  how  unremitted  his  endeavours  to 
prevent  the  sending  our  ministers  to  foreign  lands,  while  the  demand 
for  their  services  at  home  was  so  pressing !  This  was  his  objection 
to  foreign  missions.  No  man  desired  more  ardently  the  conversion  of 
the  heathen,  or  more  fully  recognized  the  obligation  of  imparting  to 
them  the  knowledge  and  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  But  does  this 
1^  clxxiv  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

obligation  rest  upon  every  man,  and  at  all  times?  He  thought  it  was 
not  our  duty,  at  this  time.  Remembering  that  he  was  set  to  banish 
and  drive  away  from  the  Church  all  erroneous  and  strange  doctrine 
contrary  to  God's  \vord,  and  both  privately  and  openly  to  call  upon 
others  to  do  the  same,  he  took  a  part  in  every  religious  controversy 
of  the  day  that  might  affect  his  particular  charge.  Valuable  are  his 
published  sentiments  on  Episcopac}^  on  Bible  Societies,  on  Theolo- 
gical Education,  on  the  Union  of  Church  and  State,  on  Revivals,  and 
other  topics,  which  have  divided  Christians  both  in  and  out  of  our 
Church;  and  they  who  are  not  convinced  by  his  arguments,  cannot 
deny  him  the  merit  of  having  ably,  and  at  much  expense  of  time, 
and  effort,  and  health,  vindicated  those  views  which  he  believed  to 
be  founded  in  reason  and  the  word  of  God.  But  it  was  not  that  he 
had  a  taste  for  controversy.  His  earlier  productions,  and  the  greater 
portion  of  them,  are  practical.  Besides  two  volumes  of  sermons,  the 
Church  is  indebted  to  him  for  several  devotional  and  didactic  trea- 
tises, (catechisms,  instructions  to  candidates  for  confirmation,  and  the 
like,)  and  for  republications  of  scarce  and  valuable  books — in  partic- 
ular, for  that  large  work,  Mant  and  D'Oyly's  commentarv  on  the 
Bible,  with  the  addition  of  many  notes,  selected  and  arranged  by  him- 
self. Commentaries,  contradicting,  or  at  least  keeping  out  of  view, 
the  principles  of  our  Church,  were  getting  more  and  more  into  the 
libraries  of  our  people;  the  call,  therefore,  for  some  such  work  as  that 
of  Mant  and  D'Oyly  was  imperious ;  and  he  who,  above  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  had  the  least  command  of  his  own  time,  who 
was  already  under  a  load  of  duties  which  few  could  have  sustained, 
responded  to  it  promptly.  His  zeal  and  industry  in  this  instance  have 
benefited  the  members  of  our  Church  generall}^ ;  indeed,  while  his  own 
diocese  had  his  chief  exertions,  he  was  never  unmindful  of  his  rela- 
tion to  all  the  churches.  His  correspondence,  in  particular,  afforded 
full  evidence  that  he  was  a  constant  and  anxious  observer  of  the 
occurrences  in  other  dioceses,  and  indeed  throughout  Christendom. 
"In  the  retrospect  of  his  labours  as  an  Author,  a  Pastor, a  Diocesan, 
[^  clxxv  ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

a  Professor  in  the  Seminar)-,  and  a  member  of  the  House  of  Bishops, 
^\•e  trace  the  result  of  the  divine  blessing  on  his  determination  '  to  give 
himself  wholly  to  the  work  whereunto  it  had  pleased  God  to  call  him — 
to  applv  himself,  as  much  as  lay  in  him,  wholly  to  this  one  thing, 
and  to  draw  all  his  cares  and  studies  that  way.'  This  highly  gifted, 
excellent,  and,  under  the  divine  blessing,  successful  Minister  had 
scarcely  passed  the  meridian  of  life.  In  his  part  of  the  country,  fifty- 
five  is  not  an  advanced  age;  and  such  was  the  natural  strength  of 
his  constitution,  and  so  few  the  marks  of  time  upon  it,  that  the  hope 
of  his  being  long  spared  to  society  and  the  Church  was  not  unreason- 
able. But  man's  time  is  in  the  hands  of  God.  When  the  harvest  is 
come,  when  the  proper  day  arrives — well  known  by  him,  though 
not  by  man  ;  for  he  seeth  not,  as  God  seeth,  the  recesses  of  the  heart, 
and  the  whole  scope  of  consequences — in  his  good  time,  God  put  in 
the  sickle.  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done."  * 

Bishop  White,  who  had  known  Hobart  from  his  boyhood,  wrote  on 
the  receipt  of  the  news  of  his  death:  "During  my  long  life.  Sir,  I 
have  not  known  any  work  of  death,  exterior  to  the  circle  of  my  own 
family,  so  afflictive  to  me  as  the  present.  I  have  known,  and  have 
had  occasion  to  remark,  the  character  of  my  now  deceased  friend,  from 
his  very  early  boyhood  ;  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  ha\e  ne^•er  known 
any  man  on  whose  integrity  and  conscientiousness  of  conduct  I  have 
had  more  full  reliance  than  on  his.  In  contemplating  what  must  be  the 
brevity  of  my  stay  in  this  vallej^  of  tears,  it  has  been  a  gratification  to 
me  to  expect  that  I  should  leave  behind  me  a  brother,  whose  past  zeal 
and  labours  were  a  pledge  that  he  \\ould  not  cease  to  be  efficient  in 
extending  our  Church  and  in  the  preservation  of  her  integrit}'.  But 
a  higher  disposal  has  forbidden  the  accomplishment  of  my  wishes ; 
much,  as  I  verily  believe,  to  his  gain,  although  greatly  to  our  loss,  and 
to  that  of  the  Church."  f 

Dr.  Schroeder  thus  describes  Bishop  Hobart's  personal  appearance: 

*  Schroeder's  Memorial,  pp.  224-226,  228-231. 
fDix's  History  of  Trinity  Paris/i,  vol.  iv,  p.  103. 

[[  clxxvi  ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

"The  characteristics  of  Bishop  Hobart's  person  were  expressive.  He 
was  all  life  and  energv.  Although  short  in  stature,  he  was  muscular 
and  well  proportioned.  By  his  acti\ity,  for  \\hich  he  was  distinguished 
from  his  boyhood,  he  gave  a  due  development  to  every  muscle  of  his 
frame.  He  was  formed  for  action ;  and  in  all  his  movements  he 
was  prompt.  From  this  trait  his  whole  deportment  took  its  character. 
He  had  a  rapid  step,  an  animated  gesture,  and  a  fleet  glance.  When 
excited  to  express  disapprobation  or  rebuke,  his  sudden  turns  and 
hurried  utterance  were  starding.  But  on  the  other  hand,  alive  to 
e\ery  social  courtesy,  his  cheerful  air  could  in  an  eminent  degree 
conciliate.  In  private,  he  had  nothing  of  that  stateliness  which  fancy 
is  so  apt  to  throw  around  the  apostolic  dignity.  His  quick  and  abrupt 
movements  were  incompatible  \\  ith  graceful  ease;  and  his  frequent 
verbal  iterations  and  rapidity  of  speech,  differed  widely  from  that 
measured  articulation,  which  is  in  general  associated  with  the  man- 
ner of  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God.  It  was  in  the  sanctuary 
that  he  exhibited  his  best  aspect.  There  his  gait  was  grave,  his  mien 
was  dignified,  and  his  enunciation  was  deliberate,  deep-toned,  and 
impressive. 

"The  features  of  his  countenance  were  strongly  marked.  When  the 
muscles  were  relaxed,  his  expression  was  very  like  that  given  in  the 
print  with  which  this  volume  is  accompanied.  But  in  his  animated 
conversation,  in  his  intensity  of  thought,  and  in  his  glow  of  feeling, 
there  was  a  life  and  soul  which  art,  in  its  perfection,  cannot  commu- 
nicate to  dots  and  lines. 

"  As  a  restless  exuberance  of  animal  spirits  was  one  of  his  distinctive 
personal  traits,  so  he  exhibited,  in  thought,  a  corresponding  exuber- 
ance. He  Mas  a  stranger  to  that  mental  sluggishness,  in  which  some 
doze  away  their  being.  In  all  the  operation  of  his  mind  there  was  de- 
spatch. And  his  thoughts  were  tmment^y  practical ;  comprehensive,  to 
discover  at  a  glance  the  whole  dimensions  of  a  subject,  sagacious  to 
discern,  quick  to  decide,  bold  to  resolve,  determined  to  undertake,  and 
persevering  to  accomplish.  His  memory  was  faithful  in  an  eminent  de- 
[^  clxxvii  '] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

gree.  His  imagination,  lively  as  it  was,  yielded  to  the  full  sway  of  his 
controlling  judgement.  All  his  intellectual  faculties  ^\•e^e  consecrated 
to  his  great  theme ;  and  he  thus  afforded  an  illustration  of  what  the 
English  moralist  has  defined  the '  true  genius, '  —  a '  mind  of  large  gen- 
eral powers,  accidentally  determined  to  some  particular  direction.'  "  * 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Matthews,  chancellor  of  the  University  of  New  York, 
says  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  Mritten  in  1852  :  "I  always 
found  him  a  true-hearted  and  generous  friend ;  and  it  gives  me  plea- 
sure, even  at  this  late  day,  to  pay  a  tribute  of  affectionate  respect  to 
his  character. 

"Bishop  Hobart  had  one  characteristic  that  may  be  said  to  ha\e 
pervaded  the  whole  man  —  physical,  intellectual,  and  moral  —  I  mean 
great  quickness  and  energy ;  and  it  was  this,  more  than  anything 
else,  that  made  him  what  he  was. 

"He  was  of  not  quite  the  ordinary  height,  with  rather  a  broad  face, 
a  clear,  piercing  eye,  and  a  highly  intellectual  expression.  Though 
there  was  nothing  in  his  countenance  that  betokened  an  unamiable 
spirit,  I  never  thought  that  his  face  indicated  anything  like  the  amount 
of  benevolence  which  he  possessed.  His  eye,  his  countenance,  his 
whole  frame  seemed  never  at  rest.  His  manners  were  dignified  and 
courtl}',  though  without  any  great  artificial  polish.  He  walked  \\  ith 
so  much  rapidity  that  you  might  have  supposed  he  was  walking  for 
a  wager.  And  the  movements  of  his  mind  and  his  tongue  were  as 
rapid  as  those  of  his  limbs.  He  talked  on  every  subject  with  great 
earnestness,  and  sometimes  made  mistakes  in  his  statements ;  but  it 
never  seemed  to  cost  him  the  least  effort  to  correct  them  ^\■hen  they 
were  made  known  to  him.  Though  he  talked  a  great  deal  in  every 
company  into  which  he  was  thrown,  yet  I  believe  nobody  ever  felt 
that  he  w^as  assuming,  or  manifested  any  disposition  to  monopolize 
the  conversation.  He  had  great  general  intelligence,  and  was  instruc- 
tive as  well  as  agreeable  in  his  social  intercourse. 

"Bishop  Hobart,  as  you  would  infer  from  what  I  have  said  of  his 

*  Schroedcr's  Memorial,  p.  civ. 

[^  clxxviii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

great  natural  quickness,  would  sometimes  say  and  do  things,  under 
sudden  impulses,  that  he  would  have  occasion  to  regret ;  but  his  large 
heart  always  came  up  at  once  to  the  reparation  of  any  injury,  how- 
ever small,  which  he  thought  he  had  inflicted.  He  w  as  full  of  w  arm 
and  kindly  sympathy,  and  would  fly  to  the  relief  of  a  human  being 
in  distress  as  soon  as  any  other  man. 

"As  a  preacher,  he  was  rapid,  business-like,  earnest  in  his  manner, 
rather  than  elegant  or  graceful.  His  voice,  though  not  very  strong,  was 
clear,  and  his  tones  natural  and  varied.  He  made  you  feel  that  he  heart- 
ily believed  all  that  he  said,  and  meant  that  you  should  believe  it  too. 
His  sermons  were  generally  clear,  and  methodical,  and  full  of  well- 
digested,  well-matured  thought.  He  had  a  great  admiration  for  the 
works  of  Baxter ;  and  my  impression  is  that  his  theological  \iews 
did  not  diifer  materially  from  his.  He  read  the  Church  Service  with 
too  much  rapidity,  and  the  Burial  Service  particularly  I  have  heard 
him  repeat  in  a  way  that  considerably  diminished  its  solemnity  and 
impressiveness." 

Writing  twenty-seven  years  after  his  death,  the  Hon.  John  A.  King, 
a  son  of  Rufus  King,  and  sometime  governor  of  New  York,  says  of 
the  Bishop:  "I  had  never  much  knowledge  of  Dr.  Hobart  until 
about  the  time  that  he  was  elected  to  the  Episcopate ;  but  from  that 
period  till  the  close  of  his  life,  though  he  Avas  considerably  my  sen- 
ior, my  relations  with  him  were  more  than  friendly — they  were  in- 
timate ;  and  I  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  him  under  circumstances 
that  were  fitted  to  display  his  varied  and  striking  characteristics. 
My  own  intimacy  Avith  him  was  chiefly  through  the  intimacy  that 
existed  between  himself  and  my  father,  who  was  at  once  one  of  his 
warmest  friends  and  greatest  admirers.  My  father  was  early  one  of 
the  Wardens  of  Trinity  Church,  of  which  he  was  Rector,  and  he 
retained  the  place  for  some  time  after  his  removal  to  Jamaica.  He 
w  as  associated  with  him  also  in  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Columbia 
College ;  often  sat  with  him  in  Convention ;  and,  if  I  mistake  not, 
v\as  a  member  of  the  Convention  by  which  he  was  chosen  Bishop. 
Q  clxxix  ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

In  all  matters  ecclesiastical,  he  had  an  almost  implicit  reliance  on 
his  judgement;  and  I  do  not  remember  that  he  ever  differed  with 
him  in  anything  of  importance.  Under  these  circumstances,  you  Mill 
readily  understand  that  the  Bishop  was  on  terms  of  the  most  unre- 
strained intercourse  with  our  family,  so  that  I  could  not  possibly  have 
enjoyed  a  better  opportunity  than  I  did  for  forming  a  correct  idea 
of  his  character. 

' '  One  of  the  first  things  that  would  strike  you  in  respect  to  Bishop 
Hobart  was  his  perfect  naturalness — he  spoke  and  acted  out  of  the 
abundance  of  his  heart  —  though  he  said  and  did  things  with  won- 
derful effect,  yet  he  never  said  or  did  anythingyo/- effect,  in  the  com- 
mon acceptation  of  that  phrase.  The  moment  you  began  to  con\  erse 
with  him,  vou  felt  that  Avhatever  else  you  might  have  to  encounter, 
it  would  not  be  an  artful  or  studied  reserve,  or  anything  that  a\  as 
inconsistent  with  the  most  perfect  simplicity.  You  could  not  feel  that 
you  were  in  contact  with  one  who  \\as  lying  in  wait  to  entrap  you, 
or  watching  for  something  that  he  might  turn  to  your  disadvantage. 
The  very  manner  of  the  man,  —  his  countenance,  his  intonations, 
forbade  the  least  suspicion  of  his  integrity.  Possibly  he  might  say 
things  to  which  you  could  not  give  your  assent ;  but  he  would  con- 
vince you  that  he  believed  them  with  all  his  heart.  Possibly  he  might 
speak  -with  more  confidence  and  boldness  than  you  would  like ;  but 
you  could  not  fail  to  like  the  perfect  sincerity  and  thoroughness  of 
conviction  which  led  to  it.  Possibly  you  might  regret  some  of  his 
scathing  animadversions  upon  men  or  things,  that  happened  to  be 
offensive  to  him ;  but  there  would  be  that  even  in  his  severity  that 
would  make  you  feel  that  it  was  the  severity  of  a  noble  and  generous 
mind. 

"I  have  not  known  a  man  who  seemed  to  me  to  have  a  stronger 
sense  of  right,  combined  with  greater  firmness  of  purpose,  than 
Bishop  Hobart.  He  came  rapidh^  to  his  conclusions,  and  then  acted 
upon  them  with  a  determination  and  energy  that  often  seemed  he- 
roic. But  if  he  had  acted  wrong,  his  mind  was  open  as  day  to  con- 
\_  clxxx  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

A'iction,  and  it  cost  him  not  the  least  effort  to  retrace  his  steps,  or, 
if  need  be,  to  repair  the  unintentional  injury.  I  recollect  an  instance 
where  an  indi\  idual  to  whom  he  had  been  most  strongl\-  attached, 
and  whom  he  had  every  personal  motive  to  endeavour  to  sustain,  had 
been  guilty  of  a  grossly  dishonourable  and  even  immoral  act ;  and  in 
his  usual  decisive  manner,  he  wrote  to  my  father,  —  'We  must  not 
attempt  to  apologize  for  him  —  he  must  be  given  up.'  Then  I  have 
known  other  instances  in  which  he  has  become  convinced  that  he  had, 
perhaps  through  misapprehension,  or  inadvertence,  or  undue  excite- 
ment, unnecessarily  wounded  the  feelings  of  an  individual,  ^\hen  his 
great  and  generous  heart  has  eagerly  embraced  the  very  first  oppor- 
tunity to  make  the  most  ample  explanation,  or  if  need  be,  concession, 
that  could  possibly  be  asked  of  him. 

"I  think  I  may  say  with  great  confidence  that  Bishop  Hobart's 
whole  character  bore  the  stamp  of  greatness.  His  mind  was  at  once 
quick  in  its  movements,  and  powerful  in  its  grasp.  He  took  an  intense 
view  of  every  subject  to  \\hich  his  thoughts  were  directed,  and  he 
had  the  po\\er  of  presenting  it  with  equal  intensity  to  other  minds. 
His  faculties  were  highly  cultivated,  and  his  large  stores  of  know  ledge 
were  fully  at  his  command.  You  could  not  place  him  in  any  circum- 
stances, but  that  he  \vould  display  a  master  mind.  What  he  was  as 
the  Rector  of  a  Church,  or  the  Bishop  of  a  Diocese,  or,  I  had  almost 
said,  in  a  casual  meeting  that  you  might  have  with  him  in  the  street, 
would  satisfy  you  that  if  Providence  had  placed  him  at  the  head  of 
an  army,  or  even  the  head  of  a  nation,  he  had  qualities  which  would 
not  have  dishonoured  the  position.  I  well  remember  to  have  heard  my 
father  speak  of  him  as  possessing  powers  of  debate  which  were  almost 
unrivalled.  In  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  he  was  just  what  you 
would  expect  from  the  qualities  which  I  have  attributed  to  him.  He 
was  one  of  the  High  Churchmen  of  his  day,  and  admitted  no  com- 
promise in  regard  to  the  opinions  he  held  as  an  Episcopalian  ;  but  he 
was  still  in  the  most  agreeable  relations  with  many  clergymen  of  other 
communions.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  natural,  earnest,  bold,  eflfective, 
Q  clxxxi  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

and  you  seemed  not  only  to  feel  the  glow,  but  see  the  flash,  of  the  in- 
ward fire.  His  appearance  in  the  pulpit  was  dignified  and  command- 
ing. His  sermons  were  written  with  conciseness  and  point,  as  mcU 
as  great  vigour,  and  were  designed  to  find  their  way  to  the  life  rather 
through  the  understanding  than  the  passions.  As  the  Head  of  the 
Diocese,  you  could  hardly  fix  a  limit  to  his  influence — there  were 
those  indeed  who  dissented  from  his  views  and  policy  on  some  points, 
but  it  was  not  at  the  option  of  anybody  Avhether  or  not  to  respect  him ; 
and  with  the  great  mass  of  the  Clergy  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that 
his  will  was  law.  He  thought,  felt,  spoke,  acted,  in  this  as  in  every 
other  relation,  as  one  having  authority. 

' '  One  of  my  last  interviews  with  this  venerable  man  was  in  the  year 
1825,  when  he  came  to  see  my  father  in  London,  where  also  I  was 
myself  living  as  Secretary  of  Legation.  He  was  then  on  his  way  home, 
after  a  brief  tour  on  the  Continent.  I  remember  he  seemed  not  a  litde 
annoyed  by  the  canonical  obstacle  which  then  existed  to  his  being  in- 
vited to  preach  in  Great  Britain.  'Is  n't  it  extraordinary,  Mr.  King,' 
said  he  to  mj-  father,  '  that  I  can  preach  in  the  city  of  Rome,  and  yet 
not  be  allowed  to  preach  in  London?'  The  obstacle,  however,  was 
subsequently  removed  by  an  Act  of  Parliament,  and  my  impression 
is  that  the  Bishop  so  far  took  advantage  of  its  removal  as  to  preach 
afterwards  in  Canada.  Such  a  prohibition  Mas  the  very  thing  to  come 
in  conflict  with  his  high  and  honourable  notions,  and  especially  M'ith 
his  patriotic  regard  to  the  land  of  his  nativity. 

"It  is  not  much  more  than  an  outline  of  Bishop  Hobart  that  I  have 
given  you,  but  I  think  I  have  said  enough  to  show  you  that  I  have 
been  writing  alx)ut  an  extraordinary  man."* 

The  poet  Bishop  of  \\estern  New  York,  Dr.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe, 
who,  as  a  child,  knew  Bishop  Hobart,  speaks  thus  of  him  more  than 
fifty  years  after  his  death:  "Bishop  Hobart  died  in  the  Autumn  of 
1830.  The  last  time  I  ever  saw  him  was  in  Easter  Week  of  that  year. 
It  was  the  custom,  in  his  time,  for  all  the  Sunday  Schools  to  assem- 

*  Sprague's  Annals,  vol.  v,  p.  4.51. 

[^  clxxxii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

ble,  once  a  year,  for  a  Service  and  a  Sermon  to  the  children.  This  was 
originally  designed  for  'Innocents'  Day,'  as  a  fitting  celebration  of 
that  festival;  but  the  bad  weather  generally  prevalent  at  that  season, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  too  prevalent  consequences  among  children  of 
Christmas  enjoyments  of  another  sort  during  the  holidays,  created 
a  change  to  the  glad  season  of  the  Resurrection.  I  remember  well  the 
appearance  of  the  Bishop,  as  he  presided  for  the  last  time  at  that  fes- 
tival of  the  children,  in  St.  John's  Chapel,  New  York.  Many  of  the 
city  Clergy  were  with  him,  and  I  recollect  that  the  preacher  began 
with  an  expression  of  self-distrust,  as  a  proper  preacher  for  children. 
A  young  Seminary  student,  who  stood  by  me,  said  something  to  an- 
other, which  caught  my  ear.  It  is  true,  I  fear,  that  'to  preach  so  as 
to  interest  children,  is  a  gift  very  few  can  lay  claim  to.'  The  Student, 
I  think,  was  in  after-life  the  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Ingen,  of  my  o\\  n  diocese. 
' '  I  can  see  him  now — the  Bishop,  I  mean — as  he  knelt  at  the  altar, 
offering  concluding  prayers,  and  gave  us  his  blessing.  Little  did  I 
then  suppose  I  should  never  hear  that  voice  again.  I  never  had  seen 
any  other  bishop,  and  though  I  knew  many  others  by  their  engraved 
portraits,  which  adorned  the  window  of  Stanford  &  Sword's  Church 
Book  Warehouse,  nobody  looked  just  like  a  bishop  to  my  eyes,  save 
only  that  energetic  prelate,  with  his  quick,  earnest  utterance  and  his 
commanding  appearance  in  the  pulpit.  I  say  'in  the  pulpit,'  particu- 
larly, for  he  was  litde  of  stature,  like  Zacchaeus,  and  did  not  look 
so  grand  when  he  stood  in  the  chancel.  Yet,  nobody  but  a  mere  boy 
would  probably  have  thought  of  this.  There  was  somewhat  about  his 
bearing,  and  almost  military  look  of  command,  that  made  all  men  feel 
his  apostolic  dignity,  his  conscious  call  to  preside  among  men,  as  an 
ambassador  for  Christ. 


"'He  died  like  an  apostle.'  We  must  recollect  that,  after  Bishop 

Seabury,  no  man  did  so  much  to  settle  the  American  Church  on  sure 

foundations  of  '  Evangelical  Truth  and  Apostolic  order,'  as  this  truly 

[^  clxxxiii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

great  man.  For  two  years  or  more  he  was  Seabury's  successor  in 
Connecticut  as  'Provisional  Bishop,'  and  Connecticut  should  not  for- 
get it."* 
Bishop  Coxe  thus  closes  the  sketch  which  he  contributed  to  the 
"  Centennial  History  of  the  Diocese  of  New"  York:  "  "  The  life  of  Bishop 
Hobart  remains  to  be  written ;  for  the  innumerable  books  and  pam- 
phlets that  came  forth  on  his  decease  were,  necessarily,  imperfect  and 
suited  only  to  express  the  emotions  of  the  moment.  These  were,  indeed, 
unexampled,  and  such  as  carried  away  all  gainsaying,  before  the 
fact,  so  universally  felt,  that  '  a  great  man  and  a  prince  had  fallen  in 
Israel.'  It  ought  to  be  noted  that  his  death  illustrated  the  master-prin- 
ciples of  his  life  in  a  striking  manner,  not  only  by  the  holy  and  beauti- 
ful submission  with  which  he  yielded  his  life,  in  the  midst  of  his  w  ork 
and  afar  from  his  beloved  home,  but,  also,  by  several  minor  matters 
not  unworthy  of  mention.  His  intense  love  of  nature,  and  his  ability 
to  commune  with  God  through  its  instrumentalit}-,  were  strikingly 
instanced  when  he  begged  to  be  turned  so  that  he  might  look  at  the 
setting  sun,  in  all  its  splendors,  as  it  sank  upon  his  eyesight  for  the 
last  time.  So,  when  he  stopped  the  officiating  priest  as  he  was  about 
to  receive  the  Holy  Viaticum  and  insisted  upon  certain  Liturgical  pro- 
prieties, not  for  ceremonial  effect,  but  for  practical  benefit,  in  his  Con- 
fession of  Sin,  there  was  a  memorable  disclosure  of  the  whole  spirit 
with  which  he  clung  to  the  Liturg_v,  as  the  very  breath  of  his  inward 
life.  It  is  further  a  most  memorable  fact,  that  he  died  a  martyr  to  his 
convictions  as  to  the  best  way  of  promoting  the  movement  for  temper- 
ance then  stirring  the  whole  country.  He  had  opposed,  for  obvious 
reasons,  the  excesses  of  that  movement,  and  was  unwilling  to  sub- 
ject himself,  as  a  Christian,  to  moral  pledges  which  he  regarded  as 
superfluous  in  the  light  of  the  Baptismal  \ ows.  But,  for  himself,  he 
had  resolved  to  practise  entire  abstinence  upon  his  official  visitations, 
if  not  at  other  times,  lest  'the  ministry  should  be  blamed,'  and  as 

*  RccolU-iTion  of  Bis  hop  Hobart,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  D.D.,  No.  6,  in  the 
Soldier  and  Servant  Series  of  the  Junior  Auxiliary  Publishing  Company.  Hartford  :  1895. 

j^  clxxxiv  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

an  example  and  a  \\arning  to  his  clergy.  The  lime-stone  water  of  the 
Western  region  of  the  diocese,  ho\\"ever,  had  brought  a  painfuJ  attack 
which  rapidly  became  a  \irulent  dysentery.  At  Rochester,  he  was 
warned  to  mingle  a  little  brandy  with  the  water  used  at  table,  but  he 
refused.  'Bishop,'  said  his  host,  'you  are  already  a  sick  man,  and 
if  you  persist,  you  will  die  before  you  reach  your  home.'  '  Then  I 
will  die,''  ans^vered  Hobart,  with  a  smile,  but  very  seriously  :  'I  know 
what  duty  requires  of  me,  in  these  times  of  public  excitement,  and 
in  yiew  of  the  stand  I  haye  taken.'  He  would  not  inflict  upon  the 
Church  the  reproach  of  a  dram-drinking  bishop,  and  so  he  died  in 
harness,  witness  to  the  master-principle  of  his  life. 

"If  I  haye  too  much  extended  this  narradye  it  will  be  pardoned,  I 
trust,  by  all  who  reflect  that  the  Church  has  but  one  Bishop  Hobart ; 
and  that  noteworthy  as  have  been  the  services  of  many  others  of  her 
illustrious  sons,  it  \\'as  his  mission,  once  and  for  all,  to  uplift  the 
American  Church  from  the  low  estate  into  which  it  had  fallen  and 
from  the  dependent  and  humiliating  position  that  had  dwarfed  it  in 
colonial  days.  So  far  as  our  dear  Church  is  the  American  Church 
pre-eminently,  and  for  the  fact  that  it  was  so  early  brought  into  con- 
tact and  influence  with  the  thought  and  the  organizations  of  American 
Christianity,  our  lasting  gratitude  is  due  to  the  third  Bishop  of  New 
York."*  ' 

Here  may  be  inserted  the  tribute  paid  to  the  Bishop's  wife  by  Dr. 
Berrian  :  ' '  Her  character,  disposition,  and  habits  were  all  fully  formed 
and  established  when  her  acquaintance  commenced  with  Mr.  Hobart, 
and  the}-  were,  such  as  to  furnish  a  sure  presage  of  the  comfort  and 
happiness  which  he  actually  enjoyed  with  her,  as  long  as  his  useful 
life  was  spared.  After  their  marriage  in  1800,  they  were  settled  for 
a  short  time  at  Hempstead,  in  ^hich  humble  situation,  from  her  lo^e 
of  the  country,  she  would  doubtless  ha\e  been  content  to  remain  for 
the  rest  of  her  days.  But  \\hen,  in  the  course  of  God's  providence, 
their  residence  was  changed  from  a  peaceful  village  to  a  bustling  city, 

*  Wilson's  Centennial  History  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  p.  i68. 

Q  clxxxv  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

she  cheerfully  accommodated  herself  to  the  duties  and  relations  of 
another  sphere,  and  was  equally  successful  in  ^\inning  the  regards 
of  all  who  knew  her. 

"It  was  only  a  few  years  after,  when  the  writer  of  this  notice  be- 
came acquainted  with  her.  In  the  gentleness  of  her  manners,  the 
sweetness  of  her  disposition,  the  placid  benignity  of  her  countenance, 
the  simplicity  of  her  character,  and  her  unostentatious  piety,  she 
seemed  to  him  one  of  the  loveliest  among  women;  and  now,  after 
a  close  intimacy  of  more  than  forty  years,  he  has  found  no  reason  to 
change  his  opinion,  but  rather  to  regard  her  M'ith  increasing  respect 
and  love. 

Though  fond  of  quiet  and  retirement,  the  circumstances  into  which 
she  was  thrown  after  Mr.  Hobart's  removal  to  the  city,  and  more 
especially  after  his  elevation  to  the  Episcopate,  but  seldom  permitted 
her  to  enjoy  it.  In  the  earlier  part  of  her  husband's  ministry  in  New 
York,  he  exercised  a  plain  but  most  abundant  hospitality ;  and  when 
he  became  Bishop,  this  hospitality  was  exercised  with  greater  ele- 
gance, and  almost  without  limit.  It  was  deemed  essential  to  his  sta- 
tion, his  influence,  and  the  many  ci\'ilities  which  he  received  from 
others.  The  extent  of  it  could  not  have  been  borne,  even  with  his 
ample  income,  but  for  the  prudence,  the  super\'ision,  and  manage- 
ment of  his  admirable  companion.  And  still,  though  it  was  to  her 
in  a  great  measure  a  perfect  sacrifice  of  her  personal  comfort,  it  was 
nevertheless  performed  with  cheerfulness,  unrufiled  by  complaint. 

"In  all  the  situations,  indeed,  in  which  she  has  been  placed,  there 
has  been  a  most  remarkable  illustration  of  Christian  temper  and 
Christian  principles.  The  simple  thought  in  her  mind  seems  to  have 
been,  under  every  changing  circumstance — what  is  my  duty? — 
and  then  to  discharge  it.  She  adorned  the  prosperity  with  which  God 
had  uninterruptedly  blessed  her,  for  a  season  but  seldom  known  in 
the  constant  mutation  of  human  things,  and  she  adorned  adver- 
sity still  more  signally  by  the  meekness,  the  patience,  and  submis- 
sion which  she  has  shown  under  some  of  the  severest  bereavements 
Q  clxxxvi  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBx\RT 

and  trials  with  which,  in  this  vale  of  misery  and  tears,  we  can  be 
afflicted. 

"In  the  various  relations  of  life,  she  has  fulfilled  her  obligations  with 
as  much  scrupulousness  and  fidelity  as  is  at  all  consistent  with  the 
imperfection  of  our  nature."  * 

Four-score  years  have  passed  since  John  Henry  Hobart  ended  his 
earthly  labours,  but  the  Church  in  America  is  still  reaping  the  bene- 
fits of  his  arduous  fight  on  behalf  of  "Evangelical  Truth  and  Apos- 
tolic Order." 

As  a  conclusion  to  this  historical  sketch  of  the  man  \\  ho  saw,  who 
dared,  and  who  achieved,  this  appreciation,  contributed  to  Dix's ' '  His- 
tory of  Trinity  Parish,"  may  be  given: 

"When  Hobart  ascended  to  the  Episcopate  the  idea  current  as  to 
the  duties  of  that  Office  was  that  it  had  to  be  filled  with  dignity  :  apart 
from  that  qualification  little  else  was  demanded.  Hobart  infused  into 
the  ministrations  of  the  Episcopate  a  zeal,  and  ardour,  and  an  enthu- 
siasm which  had  been  absolutely  alien  to  it  for  centuries. 

' '  This  enthusiasm  was  pardy  due  to  his  restless  and  nervous  temper- 
ament, a  temperament  which  was  peculiarly  American.  High-strung, 
quick  in  all  his  actions,  repose  was  unknown  to  him.  He  never  could 
have  filled  any  situation  with  'ease  and  dignity.'  But  beyond  all  this 
natural  temperament  there  was  with  him  a  new  conception  of  the  Office 
of  the  Episcopate.  He  held  loftv  ideas  as  to  the  value  and  worth  of  the 
Episcopate.  He  magnified  his  Office.  He  believed  the  Episcopate  to  be 
an  absolute  necessity.  He  believed  as  few  men  before  him  did  in  the 
reality  of  that  Office,  he  firmly  believed  in  the  words  of  his  Prayer 
Book  which  told  him  that  he  stood  in  the  '  place  of  the  Apostles '  Avhen 
ministering  to  Christian  congregations.  He  antedated  by  several  years 
the  teachings  and  the  thought  in  the  Anglican  Church  which  has  come 
to  be  known  under  the  name  of  '  Tractarianism '  or  the  Oxford  Move- 
ment, or  the  Catholic  Revi\'al.  His  activity  in  printing  tracts  and  pam- 
phlets, his  strong  belief  in  the  true  Catholicity  of  the  American  Church, 

*  Departed  Friends,  p.  97. 

[  clxxxvii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

his  untiring  zeal  to  have  those  principles  taught  by  his  clergy,  and 
his  own  constant  advocacy  of  them,  entitle  him  to  the  title  of  being  the 
'  First  Tractarian '  as  well  as  the  remodeller  of  the  Anglican  Episco- 
pate. His  influence  on  the  Canadian  Bishops  with  whom  he  was  more 
in  sympathv  than  with  those  in  America  has  still  to  be  told. 

"The  Church  of  England  does  not  yet  recognize  to  the  full  the  great 
benefits  she  o\\  es  to  the  Canadian  Bishops  of  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  and  she  is  equally  far  from  understanding  the 
debt  she  is  under  to  John  Henry  Hobart. 

"In  the  American  Church  his  influence  was,  almost  from  the  \evy 
earliest  days  of  his  Episcopate,  rapidly  felt.  He  had  official  oversight 
not  only  of  New  York  State,  which  was  his  own  diocese,  but  he  had 
at  various  times  the  oversight  of  Connecticut,  New  Jersey  and  the 
Western  Reserve  in  Ohio.  Men  from  the  East,  the  South  and  the 
West  applied  to  Bishop  Hobart  for  help  and  guidance  in  Church  mat- 
ters ;  parishes  even  in  the  South  asked  him  to  recommend  them  suit- 
able persons  as  Rectors. 

"He  was  looked  up  to  as  a  leader  by  men  of  diverse  opinions;  he 
was  appealed  to  as  if  he  had  been  the  MetropoUtan  of  the  American 
Church.  His  energies  were  untiring.  With  him  it  was  not  the  scab- 
bard wearing  out  the  sword,  but  the  sword  wearing  out  the  frail 
scabbard. 

"From  the  outset  of  his  life  he  was  a  frail,  nervous  being,  and  the 
frailties  which  we  are  forced  to  recognize  in  his  character,  his  quick- 
ness of  speech,  his  hasty  actions,  his  irritability  at  all  opposition,  his 
outbursts  of  quick  temper,  all  these  faults  and  frailties  were  we  are 
inclined  to  believe  the  result  of  his  physical  condition.  A  dyspeptic 
man  is  rarely  evenly  balanced. 

"Frail  as  his  body  was,  the  mind  was  ever  clear  and  the  ardent 
spirituality  of  the  soul  triumphed  o^•er  all. 

"It  is  a  common  tradition  in  the  Diocese  of  New  York  that  all  pro- 
gress in  Church  matters  dates  from  the  Hobart  epoch. 

"While  such  a  statement  is  not  strictly  accurate,  because  even  in 
[^  clxxxviii  ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Trinity  Parish  Hobart  w  ould  ha\  e  been  able  to  accomplish  but  little 
had  not  broad  and  stable  foundations  been  laid  by  wise  and  good 
men,  as  the  course  of  this  History  has  abundantly  shewn,  yet  the 
statement  is  sufficiently  true  to  merit  consideration. 

"When  Hobart  assumed  the  Rectorship  of  the  Premier  Parish  in 
New  York,  he  found  that  the  finances  of  the  Corporation  had  been 
uisely  and  conservatively  administered  through  most  trying  times, 
while  what  may  be  called  the  spiritualities  had  been  but  little  at- 
tended to. 

"As  a  necessary  consequence  of  the  darkened  days  of  Bishop  Pro- 
voost's  concluding  years,  and  the  health  of  Bishop  Hobart' s  immedi- 
ate predecessor,  the  latter  years  in  the  history  of  the  Parish  and  Diocese 
had  been  rather  barren  of  good  works. 

Institutions  had  indeed  been  created  before  Hobart's  day,  but  when 
he  became  Rector  he  found  them  languishing  for  lack  of  leadership. 
To  him,  therefore,  the  merit  belongs  of  having  infused  new  life  into 
them  and  made  them  valuable  auxiliaries  to  the  work  of  the  Church 
in  the  city  and  State. 

"When  we  re-read  the  list  of  Societies  which  sent  their  tributes 
of  respect  and  condolences  on  the  death  of  Bishop  Hobart,  we  feel 
that  the  Church  was  in  a  very  different  position  in  this  country  after 
Bishop  Hobart's  Episcopate  than  she  was  at  its  commencement. 

The  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Religion  and  Learning  did  not 
owe  its  origin  to  Bishop  Hobart,  but  he  made  it  effective. 

"The  New  York  Bible  and  Prayer  Book  Societ}-  seems  to  have  been 
an  outgrowth  of  meetings  of  young  men  for  religious  instruction  in 
Trinity  Parish  and  other  city  churches.  They  realized  the  good  which 
might  be  done  by  an  organized  society  for  distributing  the  Bible  and 
the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  In  'The  Churchman's  Magazine'  for 
March  and  April,  1809,  is  found  the  Constitution,  to  which  is  pre- 
fixed an  address  upon  the  utilitj-  of  such  a  Society,  in  which  the  argu- 
ments and  phrases  are  not  only  those  used  by  Bishop  Hobart  in  ser- 
mons, charges,  and  addresses,  but  the  style  throughout  is  eminently 
Q  clxxxix  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

characteristic  of  the  Bishop.  As  this  Society  was,  so  a  note  prefixed 
to  the  Constitution  and  Address  says,  to  be  general  and  its  object  to 
diffuse  its  benefits  throughout  the  Country,  there  was  subsequently 
founded  under  the  direct  auspices  of  the  Bishop  himself  an  Auxiliary 
Nev\^  York  City  Bible  and  Prajer  Book  Society,  \\hich  was  to  be  more 
local  in  its  work. 

"The  school  known  originallj'  as  the  'Charity  School,'  founded  in 
1709,  by  the  S.  P.  G.  and  Trinity  Church,  had  maintained  an  hon- 
ourable and  useful  existence  for  nearly  a  century,  when  new  life  was 
infused  into  it  largely  by  Dr.  Hobart  and  some  of  the  younger  clerg)- 
and  laity  by  its  incorporation  in  1806  under  the  name  of  the  New 
York  Protestant  Episcopal  Public  School.  It  is  now  know  n  as  Trinity 
School,  the  name  given  to  it  in  1845.* 

"The  New  York  Protestant  Episcopal  Tract  Society  was  founded 
as  an  ofi'shoot  of  the  Bible  and  Prayer  Book  Society  in  1810.  Its  early 
publications  were  largely  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Hobart,  Dr.  Howe, 
Dr.  Beasley  and  other  of  the  intellectual  clergy  of  the  day.  This  So- 
ciet}'  is  still  in  nominal  existence. 

"The  Sunday  School  Society  was  founded  in  Dr.  Hobart's  Epis- 
copate, in  1817,  and  continued  in  active  existence  for  about  thirty 
years. 

"The  Protestant  Episcopal  Press,  established  in  1829,  was  the  re- 
sult of  the  Bishop's  influence.  It  had  a  career  of  great  usefulness  for 
nearly  fifteen  years. 

Not  only  in  the  formation  of  Societies  which  did  good  work  for  the 
Church  at  large  was  Bishop  Hobart  active,  but  he  founded  Church 
papers.  It  must  be  remembered  that  Hobart  did  not  look  upon  the  terri- 
torial limits  of  Trinity  Parish  as  bounding  the  sphere  of  his  activities ; 
it  may  be  truly  said  that  New  York  State  was  his  Parish. 

"This  is  true  because  in  his  anxietj-  for  the  spread  of  Evangelical 
Truth  and  Apostolic  Order  he  did  not  confine  his  work  in  his  Dio- 
cese to  what  may  be  called  simple  Episcopal  Acts,  such  as  Confir- 

*The  Editor  has  since  ascertained  that  the  date  should  be  1838  instead  of  184.5. 

C  cxc  ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

mation  and  the  settling  of  clergy  in  parishes,  but  he  made  specific 
inquiries  as  to  the  actual  needs  of  the  parish,  just  as  if  he  were  the 
Rector,  and  the  clergy  his  Vicars. 

"  'The  Churchman's  Magazine'  was  published  from  1804  to  1808 
in  Connecticut  under  the  direction  of  the  Convocation  of  the  Clergy 
of  the  Diocese.  After  the  year  1805  Dr.  Hobart  and  other  New  York 
clergymen  and  laymen  became  financially  interested  in  the  venture. 
Dr.  Hobart  also  contributed  to  its  columns.  In  1808  the  magazine  was 
removed  to  New  York  and  Dr.  Hobart  became  its  editor.  It  was  con- 
tinued until  the  year  1812.  A  new  series  commenced  in  1813  under 
the  editorship  of  the  Rev.  John  C.  Rudd,  then  of  Elizabeth  Town,  New 
Jersey,  but  still  under  the  supervision  of  Bishop  Hobart.  This  series 
continued  until  1816. 

"Bishop  Brownell,  at  the  request  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese 
of  Connecticut,  commenced  a  new  series  in  1821  and  continued  it  for 
two  years.  The  Convocation  of  the  Clergy  of  Connecticut,  at  a  meet- 
ing in  Cheshire  on  November  24,  1824,  considered  several  plans  for 
its  revival.  Finally  a  resolution  was  adopted  that  it  was  expedient  to 
revive '  The  Churchman's  Magazine, '  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tillotson  Bron- 
son,  of  the  Episcopal  Academy,  was  elected  editor.  It  was  continued  till 
the  close  of  the  year  1826,  when  it  ceased  to  exist.  It  is  a  storehouse 
of  information  for  the  period  covered  by  its  existence,  its  literary  merit 
was  always  high  and  its  Churchmanship  sound  and  proclaimed  with 
no  uncertain  voice. 

"The  '  Christian  Journal'  was  established  in  1817,  by  Bishop  Ho- 
bart himself,  as  a  diocesan  paper  under  his  own  editorial  management 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  T.  Onderdonk. 

"  It  had  many  interesting  articles  on  Church  Doctrine  and  Practice, 
besides  giving  diocesan  and  general  Church  news.  In  its  columns  are 
found  records  of  Church  events  which  cannot  be  found  elsewhere  so 
far  as  the  period  covered  by  the  years  1817-1831  is  concerned.  Its  last 
number  was  for  December  1830.  In  a  valedictory  the  publishers  say 
that  the  paper  is  discontinued  for  lack  of  financial  support.  The  self- 
C  cxci  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

e\ident  reason  is  that  its  founder  and  sustainer  had  passed  away  a  few 
months  before,  and  the  untiring  and  fertile  brain  that  had  controlled 
its  fortunes  for  fifteen  years  was  at  last  'at  rest.' 

"The '  Churchman's  Almanac '  we  have  already  noticed.  Founded  by 
Dr.  Schroeder,  it  was  an  outcome  of  that  literary  zeal  which  Dr.  Ho- 
bart  so  impressed  on  his  friends  and  fellow-labourers.  It  is  undoubtedly 
the  oldest  Church  almanac  of  the  Anglican  Communion,  and  it  has 
gone  on  flourishing  and  increasing  in  bulk  and  usefulness,  being  now 
in  its  se\enty-sixth  year. 

' '  The  '  Pocket  Almanac '  was  founded  by  Bishop  Hobart ;  it  ^^•as 
published  continuously  from  the  year  1816  to  1860. 

' '  In  addition  to  these  publications  the  Bishop  edited  a  considerable 
number  of  \\orks. 

'"The  Companion  for  the  Altar'  appeared  in  1804,  being  taken 
largely  from  English  sources ;  it  is  still  in  use  by  old-fashioned  Church 
people  and  is  to  be  found  on  some  publishers'  shelves.  The  portion 
containing  the  Service  of  the  Holy  Communion,  with  devotions  at  the 
time  of  reception,  was  published  separately,  under  the  title  of  'The 
Altar.' 

"In  1805  the  Bishop  published  'The  Companion  to  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,'  annexed  to  an  edition  of  the  Prayer  Book.  This 
is  the  first  American  attempt  to  comment  on  and  explain  the  Prayer 
Book.  It  is  based  upon  the  works  of  Dean  Comber,  Bishop  Cosin, 
Dr.  Wheatley  and  other  English  divines. 

"In  1806  he  edited  a  'Collection  of  Essays  on  the  Subject  of  Epis- 
copacy '  which  had  originally  appeared  in  the  Albany  '  Centinel '  and 
other  newspapers,  and  had  been  written  by  himself.  Dr.  Beasley,  and 
Dr.  Howe. 

"He  edited  Nelson's  'Companion  to  the  Festivals  and  Fasts  of  the 
Church,'  adapting  it  to  the  American  Church.  This  publication  after- 
wards appeared  under  his  o\^■n  name,  and  passed  through  many 
editions. 

"'The  Clergyman's  Companion'  was  taken  from  D'Aubeny's 
C  cxcii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

'Guide  to  the  Church,'  the  writings  of  Jones  of  Nayland,  Bishop 
Burnett's  'Pastoral  Care'  and  other  standard  works  on  the  Pastoral 
Office.  In  addition  it  included  in  large  type  the  '  Ser\ices  to  be  Used 
by  the  Clergy  in  their  Private  Ministrations.'  It  remained  in  con- 
stant use  until  about  1850,  when  the  'Clergyman's  Fade  Meaitn'' 
appeared. 

"  '  The  New  York  Catechism '  was  compiled  from  a  Catechism  of  a 
Scottish  Bishop  which  was  first  reprinted  in  this  country  by  Bishop 
Seabury.  Bishop  Hobart  found  copies  in  circulation  in  Connecticut. 
He  adapted  it  for  use  in  his  Diocese  without  any  indication  of  the 
original  source. 

"He  published  in  1814  ' The  Christian  Manual  of  Faith  and  Devo- 
tion.' This  was  a  compilation  mainly  from  Bishop  Hick's  'Office,' 
Dr.  Spinckes'  'Churchman's  Companion  for  the  Closet,'  and  other 
devotional  writers  of  the  Church  of  England.  With  some  alterations 
and  additions,  it  remained  a  standard  until  quite  recently. 

"  In  1816  the  Bishop  published  '  The  Candidate  for  Confirmation  In- 
structed.' This  tract  passed  through  several  editions. 

"From  1817  to  1823  Bishop  Hobart  published  the  American  edi- 
tion of  D'Oyley  and  Mant's  Family  Bible.  This  work  was  the  most 
extensive  and  critical  one  which  had  yet  appeared  in  England.  To 
the  English  edition  the  Bishop  supplied  many  notes  taken  from  stand- 
ard English  and  American  di%'ines.  These  notes  added  greatly  to  the 
usefulness  of  the  book  for  family  worship  or  for  private  reading. 

' '  It  will  thus  be  seen  how  true  the  claim  is  that  Bishop  Hobart  was 
the  first  'Tractarian.'  Amidst  such  manifold  duties  as  Rector  of  a 
great  city  parish  and  as  having  the  spiritual  oversight  of  more  than 
a  third  of  that  part  of  the  United  States  that  was  then  settled,  the  won- 
der is  that  Dr.  Hobart  was  able  to  find  time  for  such  a  quantity  of  lit- 
erary w^ork.  Besides  all  this  Church  propaganda,  the  Bishop  edited 
Chandler '  s '  Life  of  Dr .  Samuel  Johnson , '  the  first  President  of  King' s 
College,  New  York,  and  entered,  with  vigour,  into  several  controver- 
sies, notably  the  one  with  Dr.  Mason  which  resulted  in  his  'Apology 
C  cxciii  ;] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

for  Apostolic  Order'  in  1807.  He  published  sermons,  charges,  ad- 
dresses. It  may  with  truth  be  said  that  his  pen  was  never  idle. 

"A  remarkable  feature  that  the  correspondence  which  we  have 
published  in  part  abundantly  proves  is  that  Dr.  Hobart  retained 
his  friends  to  the  last.  No  matter  what  he  said  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment  which  their  better  judgement  might  disapprove  of,  no  mat- 
ter whether  he  answered  their  letters  or  not,  no  matter  whether  he 
scolded  them  or  not,  his  correspondents  all  remained  staunchly  loyal 
to  him. 

"It  may  be  said  in  disparagement  of  Bishop  Hobart  that  he  was 
a  party  man,  that  he  was  a  pronounced  High  Churchman  and  that 
he  did  not  favour  Low  Churchmen  ;  all  of  which  is  true,  but  it  must 
ahvays  be  remembered  that  e\  cry  man  who  feels  strongly  must  be 
a  party  man.  It  is  only  the  man  who  has  no  convictions,  that  is  in- 
different to  the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  organization  that  he  be- 
longs to,  that  can  be  truly  said  to  be  a  no-party  man.  Bishop  Hobart 
was  not  a  man  of  that  mould.  He  thought  deeply  and  strongly,  he 
had  firmly  rooted  convictions.  He  believed  with  all  his  heart  and  soul 
that  the  welfare  of  the  Church  in  America  was  bound  up  in  those 
doctrines  which  he  advocated. 

"His  position  has  been  justified,  since  there  are  few  thoughtful 
clergy  or  laity  who  do  not,  to-day,  hold  as  axioms  the  principles 
Dr.  Hobart  inculcated. 

"The  wonder  is  not  that  Dr.  Hobart  died  so  young,  but  that  he 
lived  so  long.  He  literally  wore  himself  out  in  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  His  Church. 

"If  he  was  strict  and  hard  on  some  of  his  clergy  it  was  because, 
hard  working  himself,  he  could  find  no  excuse  for  laziness,  and 
clear-headed  as  he  was,  he  had  no  patience  with  men  who  had  a 
nebulous  belief. 

"Bold  to  a  fault,  at  any  rate,  friend  and  foe  knew  where  to  find 
Dr.  Hobart.  What  he  meant  he  said.  For  courage,  there  is  no  ex- 
ample equal  to  his  in  the  American  Episcopate,  when  he  refused  to 
13  cxciv  3 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

accept  the  usual  platitudes  of  esteem  offered  to  him  in  his  Diocesan 
Convention  on  his  return  from  England.  He  was  perfectly  right  in 
his  indignant  scorn.  'Men,'  he  cried  out,  'know  what  I  stand  for 
and  what  I  fight  for,  and  if  those  principles  are  not  worth  recogni- 
tion and  I  am  not  to  be  recognized  as  their  champion,  let  me  at  any 
rate  be  spared  the  indignity  of  colourless  resolutions.' 

"That  one  act  is  typical  of  Hobart's  whole  attitude  to  the  public. 

"If  the  Bishop  was  not  a  wise  administrator  of  funds,  it  must  be 
said  in  his  defence  that  in  his  zeal  to  spread  his  Master's  kingdom 
he  never  stopped  to  reckon  the  cost.  If  there  was  money  in  the  trea- 
sury of  the  Corporation,  why  could  it  not  be  spent?  If  the  Corporation 
had  credit,  why  could  not  money  be  borrowed?  He  saw  present  needs 
and  did  not  pause  to  consider  that  the  Trinity  endowments  were 
a  trust  for  future  generations. 

"Ardent,  eager,  impetuous,  zealous,  he  could  brook  no  difficulties 
which  hindered  or  delayed  the  gathering  in  of  his  countrymen  into 
the  fold  of  that  Church  which  he  firmly  believed  had  the  Apostolic 
Ministry,  the  Catholic  Faith  and  the  Evangelical  Mission. 

"The  opening  years  of  the  Nineteenth  Century  were  times  of  tran- 
sition. The  old  order  was  giving  place  to  the  new.  Looking  back,  we 
perceive  how  sharp  the  line  of  demarcation  is  between  the  two  orders 
of  things.  All  modern  thought  dates  back  to  those  fruitful  years 
covered  by  the  Rectorship  of  Dr.  Hobart.  Well,  indeed,  was  it  for 
the  Church  in  the  Parish  and  in  this  broad  Country  of  ours,  and  well 
also  for  that  Country,  that  the  Supreme  Arbiter  of  events  had  placed 
in  the  position  of  leadership  so  fearless  and  so  true  a  man  as  John 
Henry  Hobart.  ' '  * 

From  nearly  every  parish  in  the  diocese  came  resolutions  and  no- 
tices, as  well  as  from  societies  and  other  Christian  bodies,  and  obitu- 
aries were  found  in  nearly  every  paper  in  the  land.  The  clergy  of 
Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  South  Carolina  sent  trib- 
utes to  his  memory.  The  sermons  and  other  notices,  which  are  said 

*  Dix's  History  of  Trinity  Paris  A,  vol.  iv,  p.  113. 

[  cxcv  "2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

to  be  only  a  very  small  part  of  those  received,  filled  the  pages  of  "The 
Christian  Journal"  for  three  months. 

A  monument  to  the  Bishop's  memory  was  erected  in  1832,  in  the 
rear  of  the  chancel  of  Trinity  Church.  It  was  the  work  of  Ball  Hughes, 
a  young  sculptor,  whose  statue  of  Hamilton,  a  remarkable  \\ork, 
which  stood  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Merchants'  Exchange,  was  burned 
in  the  fire  of  1835.  It  bears  this  inscription: 

BENEATH  THIS  CHANCEL  REST  THE  MORTAL  REMAINS  OF 

JOHN  HENRY  HOBART, 

RECTOR  OF  TRINITY  CHimCH,    IN  THIS  CITY, 

BISHOP  OF  THE  PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  IN  THIS  STATE  OF 

NEW-YORK  : 

BORN  IN  PHILADELPHIA,  SEPTEMBER  XIV.   MDCCLXXV, 

DIED,   DURING  A  VISITATION  TO  THE  WESTERN  PARTS  OF  HIS 

DIOCESE,   IN  AUBURN,   SEPTEMBER  :   XII,   MDCCCXXX. 

THE  VESTRY,  IN  BEHALF  OF  THE  ASSOCIATED  CONGREGATIONS  OF 

TRINFTY  CHURCH, 

HAVE  CAUSED  THIS  MONUMENT  TO  BE  ERECTED 

IN  MEMORY  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES,   PRIVATE  VIRTUES,   AND 

CHRISTIAN  GRACES  OF  THEIR  BELOVED  AND  LAMENTED 

PASTOR  ; 

IN  TESTIMONY  OF  THEIR  RESPECT  FOR  THE  WISDOM,   ENERGY, 

AND  PIETY  OF  THEIR  REVERED 

DIOCESAN  ; 

IN  HONOUR  OF  THE  FAITHFUL  AND  VALIANT 

"SOLDIER  OF  CHRIST," 

WHO,   ON  ALL  OCCASIONS,   STOOD  FORTH,  THE  ABLE  AND  INTREPID 

CHAMPION  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  GOD. 

It  has  been  greatly  admired,  but  also  sharply  criticised.  A  contempo- 
rary critic  asserts  that  the  whole  design  was  taken  "from  the  monu- 
ment erected  to  Mrs.  Howard  in  the  Church  at  Corby,  England,  some 
forty  years  ago,"  which  was  the  work  of  Joseph  NoUekens,  a  popular 
English  sculptor,  who  was  born  August  11,  1737.  He  then  inveighs 
against  the  weakness  of  the  design,  and  the  lifelessness  in  the  face  of 
the  dying  prelate  "  pointing  to  the  cross  of  Jesus  as  thedoor  of  Hope." 
£_  cxcvi  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOB.\RT 

"All  is  dumb,  motionless,  and  Aoid  of  sentiment."  He  severely  cen- 
sures the  sculptor  for  allowing  the  monument  to  be  made  of  several 
pieces,  which  was  the  method  of  Mr.  Nollekens,  for  "Cunningham, 
his  historian,  says : '  There  is  sufficient  proof  that  Nollekens  frequently 
made  up  his  monuments  from  many  small  pieces,  and  that  he  prac- 
tised this  art  Avith  much  success  in  England.'  He  adds  these  very 
appropriate  remarks  upon  the  subject :  'When  time  or  accident  shall 
have  separated  monuments  from  the  walls  to  which  they  are  attached, 
what  will  become  of  those  which,  instead  of  being  carved  from  a 
single  block,  and  thus  forming  a  lasting  and  intelligible  work,  are 
composed  of  twenty  or  thirty  bits!  They  will  look  like  what  they  were 
before  about  as  much  as  the  stones  and  rubbish  which  formed  a  palace 
resemble  the  original  building.'  But  to  continue  our  remarks  upon 
the  group,  the  perversion  of  good  taste  and  of  a  due  regard  to  the 
subject,  which  is  displayed  in  the  disposition  of  the  Bishop's  right 
hand,  by  being  placed  with  the  back  of  it  Iving  upon  the  Sacred 
Page,  is  too  palpable  to  be  passed  over  unnoticed.  The  hand  thus  sit- 
uated betokens  heedlessness,  if  not  impiety ;  it  detracts  much  from 
the  solemnity  of  the  scene,  and  is  not  in  keeping  with  a  spirit  and 
mind  that  revered  the  Written  La\\'  of  God,  a  soul  that  'loved  the 
gates  of  Zion.'  The  Grecians  admitted  nothing  into  their  composi- 
tions that  was  not  in  strict  unison  with  the  subject,  and  purely  chaste, 
and  what  a  noble  and  divine  example  they  have  left  us  in  the  dying 
Laocoon  and  Gladiator,  where  nothing  is  permitted  to  disturb  the 
solemnity  and  composure  of  mental  triumph. 

"We  come  now  to  speak  more  particularly  of  the  female  figure  that 
represents  Religion.  But,  then,  if  this  figure  is  meant  to  personify 
Religion,  where,  we  ask,  are  her  attributes?  Without  these  appro- 
priate symbols,  there  is  no  inde.x  to  personification.  To  the  figure 
before  us  not  an  emblem  is  given  by  which  to  designate  her  office ; 
a  Nymph,  a  Ceres,  or  a  nurse,  might  also  point  to  the  cross  as  well 
as  she.  Moreover,  the  cross,  when  standing  separate  and  detached,  is 
in  itself  a  distinct  representation  of  the  Christian  religion.  So  here  then 
[[  cxcvii  2 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

we  have  one  representative  pointing  to  another.  Religion  pointing  to 
Religion !  Such  is  the  absurdity  of  this  composition  ;  nor  is  the  design 
less  at  fault.  The  attitude  of  the  figure  is  very  awkward  and  ungrace- 
ful; it  is  neither  firm,  decided,  nor  dignified;  and,  what  is  contrary  to 
all  classic  example,  she  is  from  the  knees  dou  nward  completely  hid- 
den by  the  figure  of  the  Prelate.  The  feet,  at  least,  in  a  group  of  this 
kind  should  have  been  shown.  We  look  in  vain  in  this  figure  for  that 
sweet  development  of  the  female  form,  and  those  pure  and  well-de- 
fined outlines,  which  distinguish  and  characterize  the  beautiful  sculp- 
tures of  the  ancients. 

"A  presuming  eulogist,  speaking  of  the  work,  says  that  '  the  female 
is  strictly  Grecian.'  We  doubt  that  the  writer  ever  saw  a  Grecian  fig- 
ure. But  w  hether  or  not,  the  expression  evinced  his  want  of  taste,  for 
there  is  not  a  trace  of  Grecian  beauty  nor  of  antique  grace  to  be  found 
upon  this  figure.  Below  her  waist  all  is  so  lean  and  undefined  as 
scarcely  to  indicate  the  human  form ;  and  from  the  waist  upwards 
we  have  the  other  extreme.  The  breasts  are  too  large  and  loose,  from 
which  circumstance  and  the  clumsy  throwing  of  the  drapery  about 
them,  as  it  is  over  her  whole  figure,  she  resembles  more  the  busy  house- 
w  ife  than  the  chaste  and  dignified  representation  of  a  celestial  being. 
The  features  of  the  face  are  coarse  and  hard,  and  the  eyes  are  too 
large  for  a  countenance  that  should  beam  forth  in  mild  and  holy  love, 
and  with  the  innocent  and  heavenly  charms  of  Religion. 

"In  the  disposition  of  the  drapery,  also,  we  discover  no  evidence  of 
a  fine  taste,  or  of  a  cultivated  mind  in  the  leading  principles  of  the  art. 
The  folds  are  sluggish  and  heavy,  and  the  garment  is  wrapped  about 
the  figure  and  tucked  up  with  as  little  regard  to  strict  propriety,  or 
to  style  and  beauty,  as  though  it  were  a  modern  landlady  habited 
for  a  jaunt  in  a  post-coach.  In  truth  the  whole  group  is  stamped  w  ith 
the  insignia  of  old  English  sculpture.  The  female  figure  especially 
may  be  considered  as  a  specimen  handed  down  from  the  thirteenth 
century,  called  in  Italy  il  tempo  barocco,  the  fantastic  age. 

"We  cannot  think  the  revival  and  introduction  into  this  country  of 
[^  cxcviii  J 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

a  stvle  of  sculpture  so  unchaste  and  corrupt  will  be  likely  to  increase 
the  fame  of  Mr.  Hughes,  or  impart  honour  to  his  profession."  * 

This  monument  was  taken  down  ^hen  the  present  Trinity  Church 
was  built,  and  placed  in  the  north  vestry-room.  The  remains  of  the 
great  Bishop  were  left  undisturbed,  and  lie  under  the  chancel  of  the 
present  church. 

In  reference  to  a  portrait  of  Bishop  Hobart,  Bishop  Coxe  says: 
"When  Bishop  Hobart  was  consecrated,  in  1811,  he  was  only  35 
years  old,  and  a  mere  youth  in  appearance.  Hair-powder  was  then  in 
vogue,  and  I  remember  some  one  who  used  it  in  the  thirties.  As  Bishop 
Provoost  ah\ays  wore  a  wig,  like  those  of  the  English  Bishops  (only 
recently  disused),  and  as  Bishop  Moore  was  a  venerable  man,  \\ith 
long  white  locks,  a  youthful  Bishop  Mas  something  very  distasteful  to 
the  old  people  of  that  Diocese,  especially  in  Trinity  parish,  New  York, 
of  which  he  was  minister.  In  deference  to  them  he  therefore  slighdy 
sprinkled  his  locks ;  but  w  hen  he  became  grey-headed  enough  to  do 
so,  without  notable  change  of  appearance,  he  discontinued  a  \ery 
useless  and  annoying  fashion  of  the  day.  His  portrait  had  been  painted, 
however,  with  the  youthful  features  and  a  prematurely  grey  head."  f 

Mrs.  Hobart  survived  her  husband  nearly  seventeen  years,  and  died 
on  Easter-day,  April  4,  1847.  Her  funeral  was  held  at  Trinity  Church 
on  Wednesday,  April  7,  at  five  o'clock.  Although  no  record  of  this 
burial  is  found  in  the  registers  of  Trinity  Parish,  it  has  always  been 
understood  in  the  family  that  she  was  buried  in  the  vault  with  her 
husband  under  the  chancel  of  that  church. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Bishop's  grandson,  William  Hobart 
Hare,  was  the  first  missionary  Bishop  for  the  Indians  under  the  title 
of  Bishop  of  Niobrara.  In  later  years  the  style  of  his  see  was  changed 
to  South  Dakota. 

As  an  appendix  to  this  sketch,  some  notes  concerning  the  family  and 
descendants  of  the  Bishop  are  given. 

*  See  quotation  in  Dix's  History  of  Trinity  Parish,  vol.  iv,  p.  +85. 
f  Dix's  History  of  Trinity  Parish,  vol.  iv,  p.  109. 

{_  cxcix  ^ 


BISHOP  HOBART  AND  HIS  DESCENDANTS 

JOHN  HENRY,  a  son  of  Captain  Enoch  and  Hannah  (Pratt)  Ho- 
bart,born  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  Septeniijer  14,  1775,  and 
Mary  Goodin,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Bradbury  and 
Elizabeth  (Emott)  Chandler,  born  at  Elizabeth  Town,  New  Jersey, 

1774.  They  were  mamed  at  Elizabeth  Town,  May  6,  1800. 

Bishop  Hobart  died  at  Auburn,  New  York,  Sunday,  September  12, 
1830.  Mrs.  Hobart  died  in  New  York,  Easter,  April  4,  1847.  They 
had  seven  children : 

Children 
Born  Baptized  Died 

I.  Jane  Chandler        Mar.  8,1801    May  29,1801      Oct.  7,1832 
Unmairied. 

Born  Baptized  Died 

II.  Rebecca  Smith  Feb.  6,1803  Mar.  16,1803  Aug.3,1863 
married  the  Rev . 
Levi  Silliman 
I\es,  afterward 
Bishop  of  North 
Carolina. 

Child 
John  Henry  Hobart 
died  young. 

Born  Baptized  Died 

III.  William  Henry    May31,1804  June29,  1804   Jan.  27,  1857 

Unmarried. 

Born  Baptized  Died 

IV.  Dayton  Nov.  6, 1806    Nov.  21.  1806    Oct.  20,  1870 

Unmarried. 


C   cc  ] 


HIS  DESCENDANTS 

Born  Baptised  Died 

Eliz.ibethCather-  Jan.26,1810    Feb.  14, 1810   May  26,  1883 
iNE,  married  the 
Rev.        George 

Emlen       Hare,   Sept.  4,  1808  Feb.  15,  1892 

June  22,  1830. 
Had  ten  children. 


Children 
John  Henry  Hobart 

married  Marianna  Clark,  Ocl.  i6, 
1867. 

Children 
William  Hobart  Clark 

married  Helen  Teynar,  Dec.  6, 


Bom 

Aug.  20, 1831 


Sept.  4,  1870 


Died 
Feb.  I,  1907 

oa.  7, 1888 


Children 
Hobart  Emlen 
Helen  Frances 
George  Emlen 

died  young. 
Emlen 
Charles  Willing 

married   Mary  Singer  Widdifield, 
May  12,  1857. 

Children 
Ida  Hobart 
George  Emlen 
Charles  Willing 

married     Catharine     Elizabeth 

Love. 

Children 
Christine 
Charles  W. 
Eugene 
Elizabeth 

LiLIBEL 

Howard 

C  cci  ] 


Mar.  10,  1894 
Jan.  10,  1900 


June  I, 1873 
Aug.  31,1835 

June  26,  1835 

Apr.  15,  1859 
Sept.  18,  i860 
April  16,  1862 


Sept.  2,  1873 
Jan.  17, 1905 

May  17,  1889 
Aug.  14,  1885 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Born  Died 

Christine  Singer  Dec.  5,  1865 

married  June  i,  1887,  Newberry 
Allen  Stockton. 

Children 
Mary  Hare  Sept.  3,  1888 

married     Nathan     Hollings- 
head  Taylor,  Nov.  1907. 
N.  Allen  Dec.  31,  1890 

Christine  Hare  June  3,  1897 

Ann  Emlen  Feb.  28,  1833 

married  Spencer  Miller,  Nov.  22, 
1853.  Mar.  6,  1879 

Children 
Samuel  Millington 

married  Elizabeth  Rebecca  Bid- 
die,  Dec.  9,  1877.  Feb.  22,  1891 

Children 
Charlotte  Barclay  Sept.  3,  1878      Apr.  15,  1890 

Marion  Spencer  Sept.  12,  1880     Feb.  28,  1881 

John  Biddle  Feb.  10,  1882     Apr.  3,  1882 

Virginia  Breckenbridge  July  5,  1883 

Elihu  Spencer  3D  July  21,  1884 

Samuel    Millington    married 
again.  No  children. 
Elizabeth  Hobart  Feb.  7,  1857      ^^c.  11,  1903 

Emlen  Hare  Mar.  30,  1859 

Elihu  Spencer  2d  July  29,  i860 

Charles  Willing  Hare  1863  1863 

Sarah  Sergeant  1873 

Hobart  June  12,  1864      Julv  11,  1898 

Edward  Alden  Nov.  15,  1866    July  31,  1893 

Dickinson  Sergeant  Oct.  7,  1868 

Ann  Emlen  Dec.  30,  1870 

Dayton  Hobart  July  30,  1872 

Joseph  Selden  Mar.  23,  1874 

George  Emlen  Dec.  7,  1836        Aug.  1,1848 

C  ccii  ] 


HIS  DESCENDANTS 

Born  Died 

William  HoBART  May  17,  1838      Oft.  23,  1909 

married  Mary  Amory  Howe. 

Child 
HoBART  Amory  Sept.  20,  1862 

married  Rebecca  Clifford  Pem- 
berton,  1884. 

Child 
Mary  Amory  Aug.  30, 1885 

married  Ensign  Arthur  Byron 
Cook,  U.S.N.,  Apr.  28, 1908. 
Chandler  Feb.  4,  1840        Jan.  19,  1893 

married    Charlotte    Elizabeth 
Greene,  Nov.  25,  1869. 

Children 
Charlotte  Wentworth  Feb.  18,  1872 

Wentworth  Greene  Jan.  4,  1875 

married  Ellen   Culberson   Ives, 

June  4,  1905. 
Chandler  Jan.  3,  1879         Feb.  4,1901 

James  Montgomery  Jan.  20,  1842 

married    Mary    Emlen    Meredith, 
June  6, 1867. 

Children 
Marion  Scott  July  15,  1868       Mar.  31,  1892 

married  F.  Kingsbury  Curtis 
Montgomery  Feb.  5,  1870 

married     Constance      Parsons, 

Mar.  1 1,  1908. 
Meredith  July  20,  1871 

William  Hobart,  Jr.  Feb.  21,  1873 

Dennie  M.  OSt.  II,  1874 

Elizabeth  Emlen  Mar.  30, 1876 

married  George  Barclay  Rives.  July  24,  1900 

Gouverneur  Morris  Mar.  10,  1878  1883 

Mary  Meredith  Aug.  2,  1880 

MoRiN  Scott  Apr.  10,  1882 

Mary  Hobart  Dec.  3,  1844 

C  cciii  ] 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

Born 
g.   Robert  Emott  July  19,  1847 

married,  April  14,  i872,Jeannie  P. 
Williams.ShediedOctober23,i873. 
Married,  May  2, 1878,  Hcloise  Vic- 
toirine  Guillou.  Apr.  10,  1854 

Children 

Rene  Guillou  May  22,  1879 

Emlen  Spencer  Nov.  26,  1882 

Alfred  Guillou  Dec.  8,  1884 
Elizabeth  Catharine  Hobart     Dec.  30,  1886 

Phyllis  Guillou  Aug.  28,  1891 

10.  Elizabeth  Catharine  Oct.  10,  1849 

Born  Baptized  Died 

VI.   Mart  GooDiN  Oct.  5, 1813  Nov.  1,1813  Mar.  10, 1879 

Chandler,  married 
Samuel  Verplanck, 
June  25,  1850. 
Ao  children. 

Born  Baptized                    Died 
VII.   John  Henry               Oct.  1,1817  Nov.  5,  1817  Aug.  31,  1889 
married  Elizabeth 
Riggs,  in  1844. 

Children  Born                    Died 

Mary  Collins  May  12,  1845                  1889 

John  Henry  1890 


Note.  Some  of  the  names  and  dates  differ  in  the  genealogical  tables  consulted. 
Where  the  authorities  conflict,  the  Editor  has  selected  what  seemed  to  him  the 
most  probable  data. 

[  cciv  ] 


BIBLIOGR.\PHY 

This  List  contains  all  the  known  publications  of  Bishop  Hobart.   Of 

some  he  was  editor  or  compiler,  of  others  the  author. 

The  Companion  for  the  Akar,  12mo,  1804. 

The  Companion  for  the  Festivals  and  Fasts,  12mo,  1805. 

The  Companion  to  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  12mo,  1805. 

The  Clergyman's  Companion,  1806. 

A  Collection  of  Essays  on  the  subject  of  Episcopacy,  8vo,  1806. 

Apology  for  Apostolic  Order  and  its  Advocates,  in  a  series  of  Letters 
to  the  Rev.  John  M.  Mason,  D.D.,  8vo,  1807. 

The  Excellence  of  the  Church :  A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Consecra- 
tion of  Trinity  Church,  Newark,  New  Jersey,  1810. 

A  Statement  addressed  to  the  Episcopalians  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
relative  to  some  recent  events  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  said  State,  1812. 

The  Origin,  the  General  Character,  and  the  Present  Situation  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America :  A 
Sermon  preached  in  St.  James'  Church,  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia, on  occasion  of  the  Opening  of  the  General  Convention  of  the 
said  Church,  and  of  the  Consecration  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Moore, 
of  Virginia,  1814. 

The  Christian's  Manual  of  Faith  and  Devotion,  1814. 

The  Security  of  a  Nation  :  A  Sermon  preached  in  Trinity  Church, 
New  York,  on  the  day  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  as  a  day  of 
Thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  the  various  Public  Mercies  of 
his  Providence,  and  especially  for  the  Restoration  of  the  Blessings 
of  Peace,  1815. 

A  Pastoral  Letter  to  the  Laity  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 

C  ccv  ] 


/ 

JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

the  State  of  New  York,  on  the  subject  of  the  Bible  and  Common 
Prayer  Book  Society,  1815. 

A  Reply  to  an  Answer  to  Bishop  Hobart's  Pastoral  Letter  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Societies,  in  a  Letter  ad- 
dressed to  the  Author  of  the  Answer,  1815. 

A  Charge  to  the  Clergy  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
State  of  Ne\\-  York  delivered  at  the  Convention  of  the  Churches 
in  said  State  in  Trinity  Church  in  the  city  of  New  York,  1815. 

Observations  on  a  late  pamphlet  containing  Strictures  of  Bishop  Ho- 
bart's Pastoral  Letter  on  the  subject  of  the  Bible  and  Common 
Prayer  Book  Societies,  1815. 

The  Moral  Efficacy  and  the  Positive  Benefits  of  the  Ordinances  of 
the  Gospel:  A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Consecration  of  Trinity 
Church  in  the  city  of  New  Haven,  1816. 

An  Address  delivered  before  the  Auxiliary  New  York  Bible  and 
Common  Prayer  Book  Society,  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
1816. 

The  Candidate  for  Confirmation  Instructed,  1816. 

A  Funeral  Address  delivered  at  the  Interment  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Moore,  D.D.,  in  Trinity  Church.  To  which  is  added  an 
Appendix  on  the  Place  of  Departed  Spirits,  and  the  Descent  of 
Christ  into  Hell,  1816. 

An  Address  to  Episcopalians  on  the  subject  of  the  American  Bible 
Society,  1816. 

An  Address  delivered  before  the  New  York  Protestant  Episcopal  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  Young  Men  and  others,  in  Trinity  Church,  New 
York,  1817. 

The  Beneficial  Effects  of  Sunday  Schools  considered  in  an  Address 
delivered  at  the  Anniversary  Meeting  of  the  Sunday  Schools  in 
union  with  the  New  York  Protestant  Episcopal  Sunday  School 
Society,  1817. 

C  ccvi  J 


BIBLIOGR.\PHY 

The  Corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rome  contrasted  with  certain  Pro- 
testant errors,  in  a  Charge  delivered  to  the  Clergy  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  at  the  Opening  of  the 
Convention  of  said  Church  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  1817, 
and  subsequently  to  the  Clergy  of  said  Church  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, at  Bridgeport,  1818. 

The  Churchman :  The  Principles  of  the  Churchman  stated  and  ex- 
plained, in  distinction  from  the  Corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
and  from  the  Errors  of  certain  Protestant  Sects ;  in  a  Third  Charge, 
delivered  first  to  the  Clergy  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  at  the  Opening  of  the  Convention  of  said 
Church  in  New  Haven,  in  Jime,  1818;  and  subsequently  to  the 
Clergy  of  the  same  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  Albany, 
1819. 

A  Pastoral  Letter  relative  to  Measures  for  the  Theological  Education 
of  Candidates  for  Orders,  addressed  to  the  Clergy  and  Laity  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  1820. 

An  Address  delivered  to  the  Annual  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  held  in  Trinity  Church, 
New  York,  1821. 

An  Address  delivered  to  the  Annual  Con\-ention  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  held  in  St.  Paul's 
Church  in  the  city  of  Troy,  1822. 

An  Introductory  Address,  on  occasion  of  the  Opening  of  the  General 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  1822. 

Mant  and  D'Oyly's  Bible,  with  notes,  1823. 

An  Address  to  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  1823. 

A  Note  from  Corrector  to  William  Jay,  1823. 

A  Reply  to  a  Letter  addressed  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart  by 
William  Jay:  In  a  Letter  to  that  gentleman,  by  Corrector,  1823. 

Q  ccvii   ^ 


JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

A  Reply  to  a  Letter  to  the  Rt.  Re\-.  Bishop  Hobart,  occasioned  by 
the  Strictures  on  Bible  Societies,  contained  in  his  late  Address  to 
the  Convention  of  New  York,  by  a  Churchman  of  the  Diocese  of 
New  York:  In  a  Letter  to  that  gendeman,  by  Corrector,  1823. 

Sermons  on  the  Principal  Events  and  Truths  of  Redemption.  Two 
vols.  8vo,  1824. 

Christian  Sympathy  :  A  Sermon  preached  to  the  Congregation  of  Eng- 
lish Protestants,  in  the  city  of  Rome,  Italy,  on  Easter  Sunday,  on 
occasion  of  a  Collection  for  the  benefit  of  the  \"audois  or  Waldenses 
in  Piedmont,  1825. 

The  United  States  of  America  compared  with  some  European  coun- 
tries, particularly  England :  In  a  Discourse  delivered  in  Trinity 
Church,  and  in  St.  Paul's  and  St.  John's  Chapels,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  1825. 

The  High  Churchman  vindicated :  A  Fourth  Charge  to  the  Clergy 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New-York, 
1826. 

An  Address  delivered  before  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
1827. 

The  Christian  Bishop  approving  himself  unto  God  in  reference  to  the 
present  state  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America:  A  Sermon  preached  in  Christ  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, at  the  Consecration  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  H.  U.  Onderdonk,  as 
Assistant  Bishop  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  1827. 

The  Man  of  God:  A  Sermon  preached  in  St.  Thomas'  Church, 
New  York,  at  the  Institution  of  the  Rev.  George  Upfold,  M.D., 
into  the  Rectorship  of  the  said  Church,  1828. 

An  Address  to  the  Students  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  delivered  in  the  Chapel  of  the 
Seminary,  1828. 

[^  ccviii  3 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

A  Pastoral  Letter  addressed  to  the  Clergy  and  Laity  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York  on  the  subject  of  an 
Association  styled  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Clerical  Association  in 
the  City  of  New  York,  1829. 

A  Vindication  of  the  Pastoral  Letter  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart 
from  the  Animadversions  contained  in  the  Prefatory  Remarks 
annexed  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Clerical 
Association  of  the  City  of  New  York,  1829. 

The  Duty  of  the  Clergy  with  respect  to  inculcating  the  Doctrine  of 
the  Trinitv,  set  forth  in  a  Fifth  Charge  at  the  Opening  of  the  Con- 
vention of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  Delivered  in  Trinity  Church,  Neu"  York,  1829. 

The  Reciprocal  Duties  of  Ministers  and  People :  A  Sermon  preached 
in  St.  Luke's  Church,  Rochester,  at  the  Institution  of  the  Rev. 
H.  J.  Whitehouse  into  the  Rectorship  of  said  Church,  1830. 

j4J}er  the  Bishops s  death  was  published  : 

The  Posthumous  Works  of  the  late  Right  Reverend  John  Henry 
Hobart,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  with  a  Memoir  of  his  Life,  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Berrian,  D.D.,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  in 
three  volumes.  Volume  i.  New  York,  published  by  Swords, 
Stanford  and  Co.,  1833.  [Volume  i.  Memoir,  pp.  423.  Volume  ii, 
Thirty  Sermons,  pp.  viii,  521.  Volume  iii,  Forty  Sermons,  pp. 
viii,  502.  Volumes  ii  and  iii  issued  in  1832.] 

In  vohimes  iii  and  iv  of  the  ' '  History  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church, ' ' 

by  Dr.  Dix,  will  be  found  many  letters  from  and  to  Bishop  Hobart 

never  before  published. 


C  ccix  ] 


CHRONOLOGICAL  INDEX  TO  LETTERS 

1757-1797 

Note.  ,4  brief  biographical  sketch  precedes  the  first  letter  of  each  corre- 
spondent^ which  is  distinguished  by  an  asterisk  in  the  folloxving  list.  Un- 
less the  contrary  is  stated,  all  letters  are  addressed  to  John  Henry  Hobart. 


DATE 

LETTER 

PAGE 

i757>  y^^-iS 

*  Samuel  Auchmuty  to  John  Winthrop 

5 

1792 

John  Henry  Hobart  to  his  Mother 

1 1 

1792,  December  3 

*John  Johnson  Sayrs 

20 

1793,  v/;.r/7  23 

*  Joseph  McKnitt  Alexander 

23 

i793>  7"^'  29 

*John  Conrad  Otto 

28 

1793,  September  3 

*  Robert  Smith 

35 

1793,  September  II 

Robert  Smith 

36 

1793,  O£ioher  19 

*  Abraham  Skinner,  Jr. 

46 

1794,7"/;'  22 

*  James  Robertson 

52 

1794,  August  13 

James  Robertson 

S8 

1794,  August  14 

Abraham  Skinner,  Jr. 

66 

1794,  August  27 

James  Robertson 

70 

1794,  September  15 

Abraham  Skinner,  Jr. 

80 

1794,  September  17 

James  Robertson 

85 

1794,  September  18 

James  Robertson 

87 

I  794,  November  6 

*  Joseph  Warren  Scott 

92 

1794,  November  8 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

98 

1794,  November  15 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

100 

1794,  November  17 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

102 

1794,  November  27 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

106 

1794,  December  4 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

108 

1795,  y//>r//  28 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

109 

1795,  y^'iv  16 

James  Robertson 

III 

1795,  August  5 

James  Robertson 

1x8 

1795,  August  14 

John  Johnson  Sayrs 

122 

1795,  August  24 

James  Robertson 

123 

CHRONOLOGICAL  INDEX 


DATE  LETTER  PAGE 

1795,  September  6  *  Abraham  Skinner,  Sr.  127 

1795,  September  16  Joseph  Warren  Scott  130 

1795,  September  James  Robertson  132 

1795,  Oiiober  14  Abraham  Skinner,  Sr.  133 

1795,  OSlober  19  James  Robertson  1 35 

1795,  OSiober  23  James  Robertson  138 

1795,  OSiober  25  John  Conrad  Otto  139 

1795,  November  7  John  Johnson  Sayrs  143 

1795,  November  Joseph  Warren  Scott  146 

1795,  December  I  James  Robertson  148 

1796,  January  17  John  Conrad  Otto  150 
1796,  January  21  James  Robertson  153 
1796,  January  31  *  David  English  163 
1796,  February  16  James  Robertson  171 
1796,  March  17  John  Johnson  Sayrs  172 
1796,  April  7  James  Robertson  177 
1796,  May  8  John  Conrad  Otto  194 
1796,  yl/(7y  II  *  Walter  Stewart  197 
i']()6.  May  II  David  English  199 
1796,  May  16  *  Walter  Minto  to  William  Stewart  205 
1796,  May  20  *  Joseph  Reed  206 
1 796,  June  4  Walter  Stewart  208 
1796,  June  6  James  Robertson  210 
1796,  June  12  John  Conrad  Otto  214 
1796,  June  16  *  William  Stewart  217 
1796,  June  24  James  Robertson  219 
1796,  July  25  James  Robertson  220 
1796,  August  23  David  English  222 
1796,  August  30  *John  Neilson  Abeel  232 
1796,  OHober  15  *  Benjamin  Rush  235 
1796,  December  19  James  Robertson  236 
1J()(),  December  2'^  *  Henry  Axtell,  Jr.  237 

\_  ccxii  J 


CHRONOLOGICAL  INDEX 


DATE                                                             LETTER  PAGE 

1797,  "January  2  *  Hannah  Hobart  242 

1797,  January  23  Hannah  Hobart  245 

1797,  February  9  Hannah  Hobart  248 

i-jc)"]^  Februarv  15  James  Robertson  251 

1797,  February  20  Hannah  Hobart  257 

1797,  February  24  Hannah  Hobart  259 

lyq-j,  March  11  Hannah  Hobart  260 

!•]<)•],  Alarch  16  James  Robertson  263 

1797,  March  22  James  Robertson  269 

1797,  y/^nV  I  Hannah  Hobart  271 

1797,  y^r//  7  James  Robertson  273 

1797,  Jpril  14  Hannah  Hobart  274 

il^)"].  May  16  Hannah  Hobart  275 

1797,  May  21  Hannah  Hobart  276 

1797,  May  29  Hannah  Hobart  278 

'797i  1""^  23  Hannah  Hobart  279 

1797,  y«^  13  Hannah  Hobart  281 

1797,  y«/y  20  *Jared  Ingersoll  284 

1797,  August  10  Hannah  Hobart  286 

1797,  August  20  Hannah  Hobart  287 

i']<)1-,  August  24  James  Robertson  290 

1J()7,  August  29  James  Robertson  293 

1797,  September  2  Hannah  Hobart  297 

1797,  September  2  James  Robertson  299 

1797,  September  3  John  Henry  Hobart  to  his  Sister  Rebecca     300 

1797,  September  22  Hannah  Hobart  303 

1797,  September  23  Henry  Axtell,  Jr.  305 

1797,  September  27  Jared  Ingersoll  308 

1797,  OSiober  6  *  Henry  Gahn  to  Mary  Goodin  Chandler        309 

1797,  November  10  Hannah  Hobart  314 

i~C)']^  November  17  Hannah  Hobart  316 

1797,  November  24  Hannah  Hobart  318 

\^  ccxiii  J 


CHRONOLOGICAL  INDEX 

DATE                                                          LETTER  PAGE 

1797,  November  26  Robert  Smith  322 

1797,  November  30  Hannah  Hobart  326 

1797,  December  15  David  English  327 

1797,  December  16  David  English  332 

1797,  December  17  Hannah  Hobart  342 


\^  ccxiv  '] 


THE  CORRESPONDENCE  OF 
JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

1757-1797 


THE  CORRESPONDENCE  OF 
JOHN  HENRY  HOBART 

SAMUEL  AUCHMUTY 

SAMUEL,  a  son  of  Judge  Robert  Auchmuty  of  Boston,  was  born 
in  that  city  in  1721.  He  received  his  preparation  for  college  at  the 
Boston  Latin  School  and  entered  Har\ard  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1742.  He  studied  theology  and  went  to  England 
in  1746  for  ordination.  He  was  made  deacon  and  ordained  priest 
by  the  Bishop  of  London  in  1747,  and  received  from  the  Venerable 
Society  the  appointment  of  catechist  in  the  citv  of  New  York,  in 
succession  to  the  Rev.  Richard  Charlton,  who  had  become  rector  of 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  Staten  Island.  His  duty  was  not  only  to  gather 
the  children  of  the  city,  particularly  the  negroes,  tnice  every  week 
for  religious  instruction,  as  well  as  Sundays,  but  to  assist  the  rector  of 
Trinity  Church.  He  was  formally  appointed  bv  the  vestry  and  entered 
upon  his  duties  in  March,  1748.  Upon  the  opening  of  St.  George's 
Chapel,  in  1753,  he  officiated  regularly  at  a  Fridav  lecture,  "for  the 
instruction  of  both  whites  and  blacks,"  which  was  well  attended.  In 
1764,  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Barclay,  he  became  rector  of  the  parish. 
He  was  a  careful  administrator,  an  excellent  pastor,  and  a  clear  and 
attractive  preacher.  His  sermon  at  the  opening  of  St.  Paul's  Chapel 
on  October  30,  1766,  was  printed  and  is  an  excellent  specimen  of  the 
solid  and  sound  theology  of  the  Caroline  divines.  When  the  Revolu- 
tion approached,  Dr.  Auchmuty  announced  himself  a  firm  adherent 
to  the  British  cause.  During  the  occupancy  of  New  York  Cit}-  in 
the  summer  of  1776  by  the  American  troops,  Dr.  Auchmutv,  whose 
health  was  greatly  impaired,  was  with  his  familv  in  New  Brunswick, 
Ne^^"  Jersey.  He  returned  in  the  fall  to  find  the  city  partly  destroyed 
by  fire,  the  parish  church,  the  rectory,  his  books,  and  ^"aluables 
burned.  Ashe  had  been  refused  permission  to  pass  the  American  lines 
that  he  might  see  the  extent  of  the  disaster  and  arrange  his  affairs, 
he  determined  to  make  his  escape  by  night,  leaving  his  familj-  be- 
hind him.  The  cold  and  exposure  of  this  journey  weakened  his  con- 

c  3 : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

stitution.  He  had  the  happiness  of  having  his  family  again  with  him 
in  a  temporary  rectory  later  in  the  season,  as  the  British  had  gained 
possession  of  New  York.  His  last  sermon  was  preached  at  St.  Paul's 
Chapel  on  February  23,  1777.  He  died  of  congestion  of  the  lungs, 
the  result  of  a  se\ere  cold,  March  4,  1777. 

Of  his  character,  his  friend  and  successor,  the  Re\'.  Dr.  Inglis, 
afterward  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia,  says:  "By  the  death  of  our  wor- 
thy and  excellent  Rector,  the  public  has  lost  an  useful  member,  you 
a  faithful  pastor,  and  I  a  sincere  friend.  My  intimac}-  and  connection 
with  him  for  nearly  twelve  years  enabled  me  to  know  him  well ;  and 
I  can  truly  say  I  scarcel)'  ever  knew  a  man,  possessed  of  a  more  hu- 
mane, compassionate  or  benevolent  heart.  Often  have  I  seen  him  melt 
into  tears  at  the  sight  of  distress  in  others ;  and  the  distressed  never 
sought  his  aid  in  vain.  Liberal  and  generous  in  his  disposition,  he 
seemed  happy  when  alleviating  affliction,  or  when  employed  in  some 
office  of  bene\olence  or  friendship. 

"For  nearly  thirty  years  you  ha\e  enjoyed  his  ministry ;  indeed  e\er 
since  the  day  he  entered  that  sacred  office  till  the  day  ofhisdeath;  and  the 
respect  showed  to  him,  and  the  distinction  conferred  on  him,  as  well  as 
the  flourishing  state  of  these  congregations,  aaIicu  our  present  troubles 
broke  out,  are  incontestable  proofs  of  the  fidelity  and  assiduity  with 
which  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  station.  Numbers  who,  I  trust, 
are  now  in  glory,  and  many  of  30U  who  are  still  li\ing,  \vill,  I  hope,  be 
seals  of  his  ministry,  his  croMn  of  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

' '  Firmly  and  conscientiously  attached  to  the  discipline  and  doctrines  of 
the  Church  of  England,  he\\as  indefatigable  in  promoting  her  interests. 

"Christianity  never  appears  more  amiable  and  ^\'inning  than  ■v\hen 
accompanied  by  that  easy  tempered  cheerfulness,  which  rectitude  and 
benevolence  of  heart  naturally  inspire.  In  this  he  greatly  excelled. 
Such  a  temper  and  disposition  endeared  him  to  his  intimate  acquaint- 
ances, and  enabled  him  to  shine  in  the  tender  collections  of  social  life. 
He  Avas  indeed  a  sincere  warm  friend,  a  most  affectionate  husband 
and  father.  .  .  .  On  his  death  bed,  he  behaved  with  all  the  fortitude, 
patience,  and  resignation  of  a  Christian ;  such  as  the  certain  hope  of 
immortal  life,  and  true  faith  in  the  Redeemer  naturally  inspire.  His 
understanding  was  clear,  and  his  senses  perfect  to  the  last;  and  he 
joined  fervently  in  prayer  not  many  minutes  before  he  expired ;  he 
died  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan."  \^Sprague\sA7i>uils,  vol.  v,  p.  128.] 

c  4  n 


SAMUEL  AUCHMUTY 

[  Samuel  Auchmuty  to  John  Winthrop  ] 

New  York  July  i8th  1757. 

Sir, 

I  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  last  of  the  9^^  Inst; 
Containing  a  Coppy  of  what  you  wrote,  to  me,  last  Spring; 
which  first  Letter  came  to  hand  two  months  ago,  and  was 
in  ten  Days  after  answered  by  me;  inclosing  at  the  same 
time  one  from  the  Gov"  of  our  College  to  you.  The  Letter 
was  sent  to  my  Brother,  to  be  forwarded  immediately  to  you, 
by  what  Accident  it  has  failed  I  can'ot  think,  as  my  Brother 
informs  me,  that  he  delivered  it  to  your  Brother.  It's  mis- 
carriage has  been  a  great  Disappointinent  to  the  Gov'^'*  of  the 
College.  For  fear  it  should  yet  be  mislaid,  I  now  inclose  you 
A  true  Coppy  of  those  Gentlemens  Letter  to  you,  w**  is  as 
follows ; 

Sir, 

The  Rev''  Mr.  Auchmuty  delivered  us  your  most 
obliging  favor  of  the  19'*^  of  April,  which  we  communicated  to 
the  Gov'*  of  the  College  at  their  Anniversary  Meeting,  who, 
upon  considering  the  same,  came  to  the  following  Unanimous 
Resolution,  viz.  "That  Mr  Treadwell  be  desired  to  come  to 
"  New  York  as  soon  as  he  conveniently  can,  &  if  it  should 
"  happen  that  he  should  not  like  the  Terms  they  offer  him, 
"  that  they  will  defray  the  expence  of  his  Journey,  and  also 
"  make  him  a  reasonable  Allowance  for  loss  of  time."  The 
reason  of  this  Resolution  is  to  save  time,  and  also  to  give 
Mr.  Treadwell  an  Opportunity  of  informing  himself  on  the 
Spot,  of  the  expence  of  living  etc — We  must  give  you  the  fur- 
ther trouble  of  acquainting  Mr  Treadwell  with  this  Resolu- 
tion, and  that  we  make  no  doubt  but  we  shall  be  able  to  settle 
all  things  to  his  Satisfa6lion.  We  are  also  dire6led  to  make 

C  5  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

the  most  respe6lful  Compliments  of  the  GoV^'  to  you,  &  to 
assure  you  of  their  most  grateful  Acceptance  of  your  good 
Services  in  this  Affair,  and  of  the  kind  and  generous  assur- 
ances you  are  pleased  to  give  them  of  your  readiness  to  serve 
the  Interest  of  Learning  in  our  College — We  are  with  much 
Esteem , 

Sir 

Your  obliged  &  obedient, 

Hble  Servts. 
New  York  June       1757  Henry  Barclay  etc. 

The  pticular  Day  in  June  is 
Omitted  in  the  Coppy. 

I  am  very  sorry  that  the  Original  has  miscarried  as  Mr. 
Treadwell  is  much  wanted,  &  impatiently  expe6led.  I  doubt 
not,  but  upon  the  receipt  of  this  you  will  hasten  him  here  as 
soon  as  possible.  I  can  assure  you,  we  will  endeavor  to  make 
his  Situation  Agreeable. 

Upon  the  Striftest  inquiry,  I  can'ot  find  that  we  had  in  this 
City, or  the  Neighbouring  Towns, the  least  Shock  of  the  Earth- 
quake you  mention.  The  Day  with  us,  was  Cloudy  &  Sultry. 
A  little  Sprinkling  of  Rain  fell  several  times  in  the  Day.  Little 
or  no  Wind  what  little  there  was  was  S&S  W  I  hope  you  will 
excuse  the  haste  this  Letter  is  wrote  in,  having  many  to  write 
by  this  Conveyance;  &  believe  me  to  be  Sir 
Y^  Much  Oblig'd  &  Most 

Obt  Hble  Sert 

Samuel  Auchmuty. 

P.S.  A  speedy  Answer  to  this 
will  be  very  Acceptable. 

Mr.  John  Winthrop 
Reed.  2  Aug.  1757. 


SAMUEL  AUCHMUTY 

ANNOTATIONS 

Henry  Barclay. 

Henry,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  and  Anna  Dorothea  (Drauj^er) 
Barclay,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  in  1712.  He  was  educated 
by  his  father,  an  excellent  scholar,  and  in  the  school  of  Mr.  John 
Beasley.  He  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1734.  He  then  spent 
three  j-ears  among  the  Mohawks,  as  catechist,  and  gained  great  in- 
fluence over  them.  In  1737  the  Rev.  John  Milne,  of  St.  Peter's,  Al- 
bany, removed  to  Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey,  and  Mr.  Barclay 
proceeded  to  England  with  ^■ery  high  letters  of  recommendation  to  re- 
ceive holy  orders.  He  returned  in  the  spring  of  1738  and  began  a  min- 
istry in  Albany  and  among  the  Mohawk  Indians  which  left  a  perma- 
nent impression.  The  horror  of  border  warfare  in  1744  disorganized 
the  Indian  work,  but  he  continued  to  officiate  in  Albany,  although  the 
city  was  in  fear  and  tumult,  until  in  1746  he  was  called  to  succeed 
the  Rev.  Dr.  William  V^esey  as  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York 
Citv.  In  this,  the  most  important  parish  in  the  colonies,  he  showed 
the  sterling  qualities  he  possessed.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  plan  of  a  college  in  New  York  City,  and  influential  in  the  board 
of  governors.  Under  him  the  progress  of  the  Church  and  of  education 
was  \er3'  great.  He  ended  his  useful  and  laborious  life  on  August  20, 
1764,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Inglis  says:  "As  in  his  arduous  mission  at  Albany 
and  among  the  Mohawk  Indians,  he  had  distinguished  himself  by 
his  zeal  and  indefatigable  labours,  so,  when  chosen  Rector  of  Trinity 
Church,  the  same  assiduous  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office,  the 
ardour  in  promoting  religion  as  formerly,  marked  every  step  of  his 
conduct.  His  character  was  truly  respectable,  his  disposition  most 
amiable  and  engaging.  Meek,  affable,  sweet  tempered  and  devout,  his 
life  was  exemplary,  whilst  he  cherished  the  warmest  spirit  of  benevo- 
lence and  charity.  During  his  incumbency  the  congregation  greatly 
increased."   [^Sprague^ s  Annals.,  vol.  v.,  p.  93.] 

King's  College. 

As  early  as  1703,  a  college  in  the  city  of  New  York  was  projected, 
and  a  portion  of  the  King's  Farm  was  to  be  appropriated  for  its  en- 
dowment. The  plan  was  revived  in  the  middle  of  the  century.  A  body 

I   7   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

of  trustees  was  appointed  by  the  Colonial  Assembly  and  a  lottery  au- 
thorized. On  July  4,  1753,  an  appropriation  of  fi\e  hundred  pounds  a 
year  from  the  excise  fees  for  seven  years  A\as  made.  The  charter  \\ as 
granted  in  October,  1754.  The  Re\'.  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  of  Strat- 
ford, Connecticut,  was  the  first  president.  He  commenced  his  duties 
on  July  1,  1754,  in  the  vestrj'-room  in  the  Charity  School-house  on 
Rector  Street,  which  occupied  a  part  of  the  site  of  the  Empire  Building. 

Robert  Auchmuty. 

Dr.  Auchmuty's  brother  was  Judge  Robert  Auchmuty.  He  was  born 
in  Boston,  where  his  father  had  been  judge  of  admiralt}-  from  1703 
to  1747.  He  studied  law  with  his  father,  and  after  his  admission  to 
the  bar  became  a  leading  counsellor  in  Boston.  He  was  learned,  ju- 
dicious, and  thoroughly  ^'ersed  in  every  part  of  the  science  of  law.  In 
1767  he  succeeded  Judge  Russell  as  judge  of  admiralt}-.  In  1770  he 
was  one  of  the  counsel  for  the  soldiers  concerned  in  the  Boston  Mas- 
sacre. He  was  also  one  of  the  commissioners  with  Governor  Wanton  of 
Rhode  Island,  Chief  Justice  Horsmanden  of  New  York,  Chief  Justice 
Oliver  of  Massachusetts,  and  Chief  Justice  Smyth  of  New  Jersey,  to 
inquire  into  the  destruction  of  the  Gaspee  in  1772.  With  many  other 
officials  and  sympathizers  with  the  Crown,  he  A\ent  to  England  early 
in  the  Re^'olution.  He  died  at  Marylebone,  London,  in  1788. 

John  JVinthrop. 

John,  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Winthrop,  the  first  governor  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  was  born  in  Boston  on  December  19,  1714.  He 
was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1732.  He  was  made  HoUis 
professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosoph}-  in  Harvard  in  1738. 
His  knowledge  of  science,  and  particularly  of  astronomy,  was  then 
unequalled  in  America.  In  Europe  he  Mas  recognized  as  an  authority 
upon  certain  branches  of  mathematics  and  astronomy.  While  he  pre- 
dicted the  return  of  Halle^'s  Comet  in  1759,  and  was  met  with  scepti- 
cism, his  prophecy  \a as  fulfilled.  An  Essay  upon  Comets  deli\ered  by 
him  at  Cambridge  in  1759  Mas  regarded  as  remarkable  and  its  posi- 
tions accepted  by  astronomers  everywhere.  In  1761,  with  a  chosen 
party,  he  observed  the  transit  of  Venus  at  St.  John's,  Newfound- 
land. His  experiences  as  well  as  careful  observations  were  published. 
So  great  was  his  reputation  as  a  scholar  and  philosopher  that  when, 

C   8   ] 


SAMUEL  AUCHMUTY 

in  1751,  Benjamin  Franklin  and  his  friends  were  founding  the  College 
of  Philadelphia,  Dr.  Winthrop  was  strongly  urged  to  accept  the  presi- 
dency. But  he  positively  refused,  preferring  to  remain  in  his  chosen 
position.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  an  ardent  patriot,  and  con- 
tinued his  duties  at  Cambridge  until  his  death,  May  3,  1779. 

Daniel  Treadwell. 

Daniel  Treadwell  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1754. 
He  was  elected  professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy  in 
King's  College  in  1757.  He  was  a  good  scholar  and  teacher,  and  was 
well  liked  by  the  students.  He  died  of  smallpox  in  1760. 

Earthquake  of  July,  1757. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Williams,  who  was  "  Hollis  Professor  of  Math- 
ematics and  Philosophy  in  the  University  at  Cambridge,"  contrib- 
uted to  the  first  volume  of  the  "Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy 
of  Science  :  To  the  end  of  the  year  mdcclxxxiii,"  an  interesting  paper 
entitled  ' '  Observations  and  Conjectures  upon  the  Earthquakes  of  New 
England." 

The  only  known  account  of  the  earthquake  mentioned  by  Professor 
Winthrop  is  found  in  this  passage :"  In  1757  there  was  another  earth- 
quake, which  though  small,  was  generallj'  felt.  I  cannot  find  any 
printed  account  of  this  shock,  and,  therefore,  can  only  mention  some 
general  observations  which  others  made  of  it.  It  came  on  July  8th, 
N.  S.,  at  about  two  hours  twenty  minutes  p.m.  I  was  then  in  an  open 
field,  surrounded  with  pretty  high  hills,  from  South-West  to  North- 
East,  in  company  with  another  person.  The  first  thing  we  perceived 
was  a  small  noise  like  that  of  rising  wind,  which  seemed  to  be  at  a 
great  distance,  but  swiftly  advancing.  It  was  half  a  minute  before 
there  was  anv  shock.  This,  I  inferred,  not  barely  from  any  conjec- 
ture I  Mas  then  able  to  make,  which  in  a  state  of  surprise  must  be 
greatly  uncertain,  but  from  this  circumstance.  After  hearing  the  noise, 
we  had  enquired  of  each  other  what  it  could  be,  and  as  there  was  no 
shock  concluded  that  it  was  not  an  earthquake  when  immediately  the 
shock  came  on.  The  conversation  I  well  remember;  and  am  certain 
it  must  have  taken  up  half  a  minute  if  not  more.  The  shock  itself  was 
not  of  verv  great  force ;  but  seemed  as  though  some  small  body  was 
rolling  along  under  the  earth,  which  gently  raised  up  that  part  of  the 

C   9  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

surface  and  then  let  it  as  gently  subside.  The  course  of  the  earthquake 
appeared  to  me  to  be  from  the  Southwest  to  the  Northeast.  The  noise 
and  shake  seemed  very  plainly  to  come  on  and  go  off  in  that  direction. 
I  might  however  be  deceived  by  the  reflection  of  the  sound  from  the 
adjacent  hills  or  from  some  other  cause;  for  almost  every  one  judged 
very  differently  of  its  course,  that  it  was  from  Northwest  to  South- 
east. This  was  the  judgment  of  several  men  ^vho  were  at  work  to- 
gether, in  a  large  open  field,  where  there  was  nothing  to  reflect  the 
sound  or  mislead  the  judgment.  It  is  not  impossible  that  both  might 
have  been  right  in  their  opinions  and  that  upon  the  whole  I  am  apt  to 
think  was  the  case :  that  although  its  general  course  was  from  North- 
west to  Southeast,  yet,  in  particular  places,  it  left  its  general  course, 
and  run  out  to  any  point  of  the  compass,  as  the  subterranean  veins 
or  channels,  might  lead  it.  From  the  effects  of  other  earthquakes, 
particularly  that  of  turning  and  twisting  chimnies,  &c.  it  seems  as 
though  this  had  been  the  case  with  most  of  the  large  earthquakes  we 
have  had."  [Memoirs,  pp.  277,  278.] 


L  lo  -2 


HOBART  TO  HIS  MOTHER 

[  John  Henry  Hobart  to  his  Mother  ] 

AC  COR  DING  to  my  promise  I  attempt  writing  to  my 
X\.  Dear  Mama,  knowing  that  it  will  give  her  pleasure 
to  hear  from  me.  I  got  to  town  safe  on  friday  at  about  four 

0  clock  to  my  great  joy,  as  the  cold  was  very  intense.  Enoch 
&  Sister  Sally  were  very  much  surprised  to  see  me,  as  they 
did  not  expe6l  me  till  Sunday.  Sister  Becky  was  out  to  Mrs 
Archers  &  did  not  return  till  Saturday  evening.  Enoch  has  sub- 
scribed to  Mr  Claypooles  papers,  but  as  it  will  not  be  pub- 
lished these  two  or  three  weeks,  I  thought  I  might  as  well 
continue  to  take  Dunlaps  with  M'  Arm  at  or  D^  Lusby  till 
Claypooles  is  published. 

If  my  Dear  Mama  recolle6ls,  I  bought  some  time  ago  Ele- 
gant Extra61:s  in  Prose;  I  have,  since  I  came  to  town,  taken 
Elegant  Extracts  in  Ferse  out  of  the  Library,  I  find  that  it 
abounds  with  so  many  peices  proper  for  speaking,  that  I  can- 
not but  avoid  asking  my  dear  Mama's  permission  to  buy  it. 

1  cannot  get  it  out  of  the  Library  again  w"^  is  so  much  sought 
after,  that  if  I  had  not  gone  to  the  Library  on  the  first  day  of 
its  opening,  I  should  not  have  got  it.  Even  if  I  could  it  would 
be  necessary  for  me  to  take  it  to  School,  where  it  would  per- 
haps meet  with  abuse:  and  as  the  Extrafts  which  I  now  have 
are  not  so  valuable  without  the  other,  I  hope  you  will  consent 
to  my  buying  it.  Sister  Becky  can  give  testimony  to  its  merit. 

I  hope  that  as  holiday  time  in  the  country  is  now  over,  & 
M""'  Gurreis  house  cleared  your  situation  is  more  agreeable. 
I  shall  not  tell  you  what  a  sweet  boy  Natty  is  grown,  but 
leave  you  to  judge  yourself.  I  hope  that  Sister  Polly  is  as  well 
as  usual,  &  that  my  dear  Mama  may  enjoy  her  health  is  the 
wish  of  her  affe6lionate 

J.  H.  Hobart 

C  11  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Please  to  tell  Lucy  that  I  delivered  the  money  &  letter  accord- 
ing to  direc^tion.  You  will  also  please  to  take  care  of  the  News 
papers  &  return  them  direfted  as  before  to  the  care  of  Potts 
&  Hobart 

No  superscription. 

ANNOTATIONS 

Date  of  Hobart' s  Letter  to  his  Mother. 

The  "Elegant  Extracts"  mentioned  in  the  letter  were  published  in 
England  in  1790,  and  bought  by  the  Library  Company  of  Philadel- 
phia in  1792.  This  enables  us  to  fix  the  date  of  this  letter  from  John 
Henry  Hobart  to  his  mother,  as  being  probably  in  1792.  This  is  the 
first  letter  from  him  to  be  found  in  the  archives. 

Robert  Enoch  Hobart. 

Robert  Enoch,  a  son  of  Captain  Enoch  and  Hannah  (Pratt)  Hobart, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  April  25,  1768.  He  was  carefully  edu- 
cated, studied  law,  and  after  practising  for  a  time,  abandoned  that 
profession  for  business. 

On  Januarj'  14,  1791,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  May,  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Joanna  (Holland)  Potts,  at  Pottsgrove.  He  then  entered 
into  a  partnership  with  one  of  his  brothers-in-law,  and  carried  on  busi- 
ness in  Philadelphia  under  the  firm  name  of  Potts  &.  Hobart  at  the 
famil}'  home.  No.  79  Walnut  Street.  It  was  soon  after  that,  that  he 
removed  to  Pottsgro\e  to  take  charge  of  the  extensive  iron  works 
which  had  been  established  by  John  and  Samuel  Potts.  They  were 
known  as  the  Glasgow  Forge  and  the  Warwick  Furnace.  A  por- 
tion of  the  tract  which  was  then  mined  for  copper  and  iron  was  also 
underlaid  with  anthracite  coal.  But  although  both  Colonel  Thomas 
Potts  and  his  brother  Samuel  founded  a  company  after  they  had  dis- 
covered the  coal,  in  about  1783,  no  use  could  be  made  of  their  knowl- 
edge until  nearly  forty  j-ears  after,  as  no  one  in  Philadelphia  Avould  buy 
the ' '  rocks  and  stones ' '  from  the  Schuylkill  valley.  Mr.  Hobart' s  efforts 
to  make  the  iron  works  successful  are  detailed  in  this  correspondence. 

Returning  to  Philadelphia,  he  engaged  in  various  business  enter- 
prises, and  then  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Potts  James  says  in  the  Potts  Memorial :  "  He  built, 

C     12    J 


HOB.\RT  TO  HIS  MOTHER 

about  the  beginning  of  this  century,  the  picturesque  house  still  stand- 
ing at  the  northwest  corner  of  9th  and  Spruce  Sts.,  Phil.,  which  was 
then  thought  quite  out  of  town,  and  the  streets  and  sidewalks  in  the 
neighborhood  were  unpaved.  One  of  his  daughters  told  me  that  when 
she  first  began  to  attend  school  a  few  squares  distant,  the  colored  man- 
servant was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  her  in  his  arms,  that  she  might 
not  muddy  her  shoes.  This  family  were  earnest  members  of  Christ 
Ch.,  Phil.,  \\here  several  of  them  were  buried. 

"Mr.  Hobart,  towards  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  removed  to  Potts- 
toMn,  and  finished  the  house  on  the  hill  commenced  by  his  brother-in- 
law,  David  Potts.  In  1825  he  became  one  of  the  Incorporators  and  the 
senior  warden  of  Christ  Ch.  in  that  borough.  The  first  building  stood 
at  the  corner  of  Hanover  St.  and  the  railroad,  and  was  erected  on  the 
foundation  walls  of  the  old  brew-house  \\  hich  is  mentioned  in  the  will 
of  John  Potts,  1767.  This  Church  was  afterward  rebuilt  on  High  St., 
and  was  taken  down  in  1872,  and  a  new  and  churchly  edifice  erected 
on  the  same  site,  in  which  is  a  large  memorial  window  of  fine  work- 
manship, to  the  memory  of  Robert  E.  Hobart.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  and,  while  serving  in  that  capacity,  d.  at  Harrisburg, 
March  17,  1826.  His  wife  had  died  a  few  months  previous,  Jan.  2, 
1826,  and  both  are  buried  in  the  family  graveyard."  \_Page  260.] 

Sarah  Hobart. 

The  Sister  Sally  referred  to  by  Mr.  Hobart  was  Sarah,  the  wife  of 

Robert  Enoch  Hobart. 

Rebecca  Hobart  [Mrs.  Nathaniel  Potts  and  Mrs.  Robert  Smith). 
Rebecca,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Enoch  and  Hannah  (Pratt)  Hobart, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1760.  She  was  well  educated,  and  even 
as  a  young  girl  sho\\ed  great  literary  ability.  She  was  a  favourite  in 
society,  and  early  attracted  attention  by  her  graceful  and  dignified 
manners,  livelv  wit,  and  brilliant  conversation.  When  only  seventeen 
she  became  engaged  to  Major  William  Scull,  of  the  staff  of  General 
Sir  William  Howe,  then  the  British  commandant  in  Philadelphia. 
To  her  great  grief,  he  was  drowned  in  the  Schuylkill  in  1777.  Five 
years  later  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Potts,  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Joanna  (Holland)  Potts,  of  Pottsgrove.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
exceptional  ability,  and  had  served  \vith  great  gallantry  in  the  Revolu- 

c  IS : 


HOBART  CORItESPONDENCE 

tion  as  captain  under  his  uncle,  Colonel  Thomas  Potts.  After  the  war 
he  resumed  his  study  of  law  with  Mr.  William  Leuis,  and  com- 
menced to  practise  in  Philadelphia  with  every  prospect  of  great  suc- 
cess. In  the  spring  of  1784  he  removed  to  Pottsgrove  with  the  in- 
tention of  making  it  his  home.  A  most  virulent  and  violent  attack  of 
fever  caused  his  death  on  April  26,  1784,  in  the  twenty-fifth  vear 
of  his  age.  A  daughter,  Emily,  died  in  infancy.  A  posthumous  son, 
Nathaniel,  was  born  to  him  on  November  30,  1784,  who  died  in 
1788  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Mrs.  Potts  wrote  for  their  tombstones,  in  the  Pottsgrove  cemetery, 
these  verses : 

In  hallowed  rest  till  time  itself  shall  close, 

A  Son's  a  Husband's  dear  remains  repose. 

Cold  now  the  heart  in  which  the  spreading  flame 

Of  love  and  virtue  purifed  each  aim ; 

And  flown  the  heavenly  spark  whose  plastic  ray 

Bade  genius,  sense,  and  taste  their  powers  display. 

Fareivell  then  best  beloved,  till  heaven's  decree 

Unites  in  Death  this  unchanged  soul  to  thee; 

Till  when  while  love  thro'  life  thy  worth  shall  tell 

I  bid  thee  thus.  Oh  best  beloved  farewell. 

Dear  Babe,  how  perfect  for  thy  blest  remove: 
Thy  heart  was  goodness  and  thy  soul  was  love. 
The  melting  tenderness  that  filled  thy  breast. 
The  warmth  of  filial  love  so  deep  impressed. 
The  searching  thought  and  more  than  infant  sense. 
Graced  the  fair  dawn  of  future  excellence. 
fVith  thee  soft  comfort  came  to  soothe  each  moan. 
With  thee  each  hope  of  future  peace  is  flown. 
Till  happy  souls  reanimate  their  clay 
And  meet  with  rapture  in  Eternal  day. 

On  July  6,  1791,  Mrs.  Potts  married  Major  Robert  Smith  of  Phila- 
delphia. The  Rev.  Professor  McVickar  says:  "In  her  second  mar- 
riage, with  Mr.  Smith,  worldly  prosperity  opened  upon  her;  but  it 
seems  only  to  have  widened  and  deepened  the  stream  of  Christian  feel- 
ing. Many  benevolent  labours  are  recorded  of  her ;  among  others,  the 
origin  of  the  Philadelphia  Society,  for  the  relief  of  destitute  widows. 
C    14   ] 


HOBART  TO  HIS  MOTHER 

Her  mind,  though  calm  and  practical,  \\as  not  destitute,  we  may  con- 
clude, of  enthusiasm,  since  her  poetic  effusions  were  widely  circulated, 
and  highly  praised  in  the  literary  circles  in  which  she  moved  :  while 
the  eulogium  passed  upon  her  after  death  by  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush, 
that  she  had  'a  mind  elevated  at  once  by  nature,  education  and  reli- 
gion,' will  be  sufficient  warrant  that  she  must  have  been  a  woman  far 
above  the  ordinary  mark  of  female  talent  and  attainment."  \^McFick- 
ar' s  Early  Years,  pp.  150,  151.] 

It  was  in  the  home  of  this  sister,  thirteen  years  older  than  himself, 
that  Mr.  Hobart  lived  while  he  was  in  the  counting-house  of  his  bro- 
ther-in-law. Her  affection,  common  sense,  and  ability  to  enter  into  the 
wishes  and  plans  of  her  brother  are  apparent  in  his  letters  to  her,  and 
in  the  few  written  by  Mrs.  Smith  which  have  been  preserved. 

Mrs.  Smith  was  the  mother  of  a  large  family,  and  in  every  way 
adorned  the  station  in  which  she  lived.  She  died  on  July  7,  1802. 
Dr.  Rush  wrote  in  a  Philadelphia  paper  this  obituary  notice  :  "  Died, 
universally  and  justly  lamented,  on  Wednesday  morning,  near  Frank- 
ford,  in  the  fortv-second  year  of  her  age,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Smith,  wife 
of  Robert  Smith,  merchant,  of  this  city.  A  mind  elevated  by  nature, 
education,  and  religion  rendered  this  excellent  woman  an  object  of 
uncommon  respect  and  esteem  to  all  who  knew  her.  She  li\ed  to  a 
numerous  family  as  if  she  owed  no  obligations  to  society,  and  she 
lived  to  society  as  if  she  had  no  family.  Such  was  the  private  and 
modest  use  she  made  of  the  talents  and  virtues  with  which  Heaven 
had  endowed  her,  that  their  benevolent  application  was  seldom  known, 
except  by  accident,  to  her  most  intimate  friends. 

"During  the  tedious  and  distressing  illness  there  was  no  departure, 
impatience  or  complaint,  from  the  natural  propriety  and  dignity  of 
her  character. 

"With  every  comfort  and  tie  to  life  that  could  make  it  desirable, 
she  met  the  approach  of  death  with  composure,  and  resigned  her 
breath  with  a  full  reliance  upon  the  merits  of  her  Redeemer  for  her 
future  happiness." 

Mrs.  Archer. 

Mrs.  Archer  was  the  wife  of  James  B.  Archer,  a  merchant,  promi- 
nent in  civil  as  well  as  social  life.  He  was  also  a  commissioner  on 
bankruptcy. 

C    15   -] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

David  C.  Claypoole. 

David  C.  Claypoole  was  born  in  1757.  He  belonged  to  a  well-known 
Philadelphia  family,  which  traced  its  descent  from  General  Clavpoole, 
an  officer  under  01i\er  Cromwell,  who  married  the  Protector's  daugh- 
ter. He  learned  the  printer's  trade  and  became  very  expert,  and  about 
1 790  commenced  the  publication  of  the  ' '  General  Advertiser, ' '  which 
on  November  8,  1794,  became  the  "Aurora."  Mr.  Claypoole  was 
a  man  of  integrity,  true  patriotism,  great  urbanity  of  manners,  and 
large  generosity,  and  he  was  uni\ersally  beloved  and  respected.  He 
died  in  1849,  in  his  ninety-third  year. 

John  Dun  lap. 

John  Dunlap  was  born  in  Strabane,  Ireland,  in  1747.  He  arrived  in 
America  \vhen  a  young  boy,  and  was  brought  up  by  his  uncle,  Wil- 
liam Dunlap,  a  printer  in  Philadelphia.  He  went  into  business  for 
himself  in  1765.  In  1771  he  founded  the  "Pennsylvania  Packet," 
which  after  1783  was  published  daily.  He  was  official  printer  to  Con- 
gress, and  printed  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  1776.  He 
served  as  an  officer  in  the  first  troop  of  Philadelphia  cavalrv,  which 
formed  a  body-guard  to  Washington  at  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton.  In  1780  he  gave  £4000  to  supply  the  army  with  pro\  i- 
sions.  On  January  1,  1796,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  David  C. 
Claypoole  under  the  name  of  Dunlap  and  Company.  They  issued  the 
"American  Daily  Advertiser"  until  1800,  when  it  became  "Poul- 
son's  American  Daily  Advertiser."  In  1839  it  was  merged  into  the 
"North  American."  Mr.  Dunlap  died  in  Philadelphia  on  November 
27,  1812. 

Thomas  A.  Arniatt. 

Mr.  Thomas  Armatt  was  a  merchant  living  and  doing  business  at 

No.  105  North  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 

Josiah  Lushy. 

Dr.  Josiah  Lusby  was  a  phj-sician  who  had  his  office  and  house  at 

No.  53  North  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 

Elegant  ExtraSls. 

The  compiler  of  "Elegant  Extracts"  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Vicesimus 

[   16  ^ 


HOBART  TO  HIS  MOTHER 

Knox.  He  Mas  born  at  Newington  Green,  Middlesex  County,  Eng- 
land, in  1752.  He  studied  at  St.  John's  College,  Oxford,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  university  Mith  honour.  He  recei\ed  holy  orders, 
and  was  presented  to  the  united  rectories  of  Run\\ell,  Ramsden  Crays, 
and  Essex.  He  afterward  held  the  chaplaincy  of  Shipbourne,  Kent. 
He  succeeded  his  father  as  master  of  Tunbridge  School  in  1779, 
and  was  in  charge,  with  a  high  reputation  for  teaching  and  govern- 
ing the  boys  under  his  care,  until  1812,  when  he  gave  up  active  work. 
He  lived  in  London  until  his  death,  which  took  place  on  a  visit  to 
Tunbridge,  in  1821.  All  his  books  have  received  high  praise.  His 
chief  ones  are : 

Essays,  Moral  and  Literary  1777 

Liberal  Education  1780 

Elegant  Extracts  in  Prose  1783 

Winter  Evening  1788 

Elegant  Extracts  in  Verse  1790 

Family  Lectures  1791 

Degant  Epistles  1792 

Sermons  1792 

Personal  Nobility  1793 

Christian  Philosophy  1795 

Nature  and  Efficiency  of  the  Lord's  Supper  1799 

An  American  edition  in  six  volumes  of  the  "Extracts"  and  "Epis- 
tles" was  edited  by  the  poet  James  G.  Percival,  Boston.  A  collected 
edition  of  his  works,  in  eight  volumes,  appeared  in  1824. 

The  copy  of  "Elegant  Extracts"  which  young  Hobart  most  prob- 
ably used  is  still  in  the  Philadelphia  Library. 

Mrs.  Gurreis. 

Notwithstanding  a  diligent  search  in  the  records  and  newspapers 
of  Philadelphia  and  Frankford  of  the  time,  no  trace  has  been  found 
of  any  person  bearing  this  name  or  one  similar  to  it.  The  nearest 
approach  to  it  is  that  of  "Guiry."  Several  persons  of  that  name  are 
found  in  the  Philadelphia  Directory  from  1785  to  1800,  and  in  the 
records  of  Christ  Church  in  1755  there  is  recorded  the  marriage  of 
Matthew  Guiry  to  Alida  Scheppen.  The  name  Gurreis  is  not  found 
on  any  deed  recorded  in  Philadelphia  County  from  1695  to  1853. 
C   17  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Nathaniel  Potts  Hobart. 

Nathaniel  Potts,  tlie  eldest  son  of  Robert  Enoch  and  Sarah  May 
(Potts)  Hobart,  Mas  born  in  Philadelphia  on  October  3,  1790.  He 
was  carefully  brought  up,  and  after  his  preliminary  education  studied 
law,  in  whicli  he  acquired  distinction.  He  Mas  appointed  attorney- 
general  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  by  Governor  Hitner.  \\nien  the 
coal  lands  in  the  family  possession  became  valuable,  he  purchased  the 
rights  of  the  other  heirs  of  Mr.  Samuel  Potts.  It  is  understood  that 
he  received  for  the  claim  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
from  those  operating  the  mines.  From  them,  coal  valued  at  many 
millions  of  dollars  has  been  taken. 

Mr.  Hobart  made  his  home  at  Pottsgrove,  where  he  died  on  July  3, 
1860.  He  married  Joanna  Holland,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Ramsay)  Potts,  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  on  April  18,  1813.  They 
had  a  numerous  family.  Mrs.  Hobart  died  in  January,  1867. 

Mary  Hobart. 

"  Sister  Polly"  was  Hobart's  youngest  sister,  Mary.  She  appears  to 
have  been  subject  to  frequent  attacks  of  illness,  possibly  mental  as 
well  as  physical. 

Lucy. 

Lucy  was  evidently  a  trusted  servant  of  Mrs.  Hobart. 


C    IB   : 


JOHN  JOHNSON  SAYRS 

JOHN  Johnson  Sayrs  was  born  in  1774.  He  was  apparently  a  na- 
tive of  Newark.  He  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
in  1792.  Where  he  studied  theology  is  not  apparent.  Mr.  Sayrs  was 
admitted  as  a  candidate  for  holy  orders  in  the  Diocese  of  New  Jersey, 
on  June  5,  1794.  He  was  recommended  for  ordination  by  the  stand- 
ing committee  of  that  diocese  on  October  25,  1795,  at  the  same  time 
with  Menzies  Rayner.  In  its  report  to  the  Convention  of  1796,  the 
committee  says:  "And  that  they  respectively  were  ordained  deacons 
by  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Provoost  of  the  State  of  New  York . ' ' 
\Joiinial,  1796,^.  143.]  Bishop  Burgess,  in  his  List,  gives  the  date 
of  Mr.  Urquhart's  ordination  to  the  diaconate  as  October  18.  He 
was  recommended  by  the  committee  on  June  4.  But  the  Bishop  put 
Mr.  Rayner  as  the  first  of  those  ordained  in  1795,  but  without  date. 
Mr.  Sa}TS  is  said  to  have  become  minister  of  Trinity  Church,  Fishkill, 
on  January  5,  1795,  succeeding  the  Rev.  George  H.  Spieren.  He  held 
in  connection  with  it,  from  1796,  the  rectorship  of  Christ  Church, 
Poughkeepsie.  Dr.  Ethan  Allen,  in  his  "Maryland  Clergy,"  says 
he  was  ordained  in  1792  by  Bishop  White.  Bishop  Burgess,  in  his 
List,  puts  his  ordination  M'ithout  date  by  Bishop  Claggett  in  1801. 

Mr.  Sayrs  was  succeeded  in  his  cure,  \\  hich  included  both  Pough- 
keepsie and  Fishkill,  in  October,  1799,  by  the  Rev.  Philander  Chase, 
afterward  Bishop  of  Illinois.  In  1800  Mr.  Sayrs  became  the  rector 
of  Durham  Parish,  Charles  County,  Maryland.  In  connection  with 
it  he  had  a  flourishing  school.  When  St.  John's  Parish,  Georgetown, 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  was  organized,  he  became  its  rector  in 
1804.  He  seems  to  have  been  admirably  adapted  for  the  position, 
and  very  highly  esteemed.  In  1806  he  was  chaplain  of  the  United 
States  Senate.  He  died  in  1809,  in  his  thirty-sixth  3-ear.  A  tablet  to 
his  memory  was  erected  in  the  church  \v  ith  the  following  inscrip- 
tion by  the  Hon.  Francis  Scott  Key,  the  author  of ' '  The  Star  Spangled 
Banner : ' ' 

JOH.  J.  SAYRS 

Hic :  ECCL : 

RECTOR  PRIMUS 

HIC 

qUA  CHRISTI  SERVUS 

c  19 : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

FIDELITER  MINISTRAVIT 
SEP.    JAC. 

OB :  6  JAN :  A  :  D  :  mdcccix 

AET.  XXXV 

HERE  ONCE  STOOD  FORTH  A  MAN  WHO  FROM  THE  WORLD 

THOUGH  BRIGHT  ITS  ASPECT  TO  HIS  YOUTHFUL  EVE 

TURNED  WITH  AFFECTION  ARDENT  TO  HIS  GOD. 

AND  LIVD  &  DIED  AN  HUMBLE  MINISTER 

OF  HIS  BENIGNANT  PURPOSES  TO  MAN. 

HERE  LIES  HE  NOW  — YET  GRIEVE  NOT  THOU  FOR  HIM, 

READER  HE  TRUSTED  IN  THAT  LOVE  WHEREIN  NONE 

HAVE  EVER  VAINLY  TRUSTED.  RATHER  LET 

HIS  MASTER  SPEAK  TO  THEE,  AND  SHOULDST  THOU  FEEL 

THE  RISING  OF  A  NEW  AND  SOLEMN  THOUGHT 

WAKED  BY  THIS  SACRED  PLACE  &  SAD  MEMORIAL 

O  LISTEN  TO  ITS  I.MPULSE  !  — T  IS  DIVINE 

AND  IT  SHALL  GUIDE  THEE  TO  A  LIFE  OF  JOY 

A  DEATH  OF  HOPE  &  ENDLESS  BLISS  HEREAFTER. 


[  From  John  Johnson  Sayrs  ]  * 

New-Ark,  December  3d  1792 

Dear  Sir, 

WASTING  time  in  enjoying  the  Sweets  of  this  Little 
village, &  finding  nothing  for  an  evenings  amusement, 
I  thought  it  could  not  be  better  employed  than  in  writing  a 
few  lines  to  one  whom  I  may  I  hope  venture  to  call  a  friend. 
I  thought  that  when  I  left  Princeton,  I  should  be  far  more 
happy  than  when  confined  there,  but  I  am  much  deceived;  I 
am  now  unsettled,  undetermined  what  Study  to  undertake, 
&  doubtful  whether  I  shall  come  to  princeton  this  Winter,  as 
I  expe6led  to  do  Your  friend  Jacob  Burnet  applies  himself  to 
Study  I  think  as  close  as  when  he  was  at  princeton.  George  is 
going  to  Study  Law,  when  I  do  not  know,  &  I  doubt  whether 
he  does  himself.  Pardon  this  intrusion.  I  Shall  be  happy  in 

*  Wherever  only  the  name  of  the  writer  of  a  letter  is  given,  it  is  to  be  understood  in  every  case 
that  the  letter  is  addressed  to  John  Henry  Hobart. 

L  20 : 


JOHN  JOHNSON  SAYRS 

hearing  from  you  when  you  find  it  convenient  to  write,  as  I 
doubt  not  but  your  Letters  will  be  both  instru6live  and  enter- 
taining. These  from  your  sincere  friend. 

John  J.  Sayrs. 
N.B.  My  respe6ls  to  all  friends. 

Superscription: 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Student,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Spelling  of  Sayrs. 

Mr.  Sayrs's  name  is  spelled  indifl'erentlj',  Sayr,  Sayrs,  Sayres,  and 
Sayers.  He  himself,  as  many  others  at  that  period,  did  not  write  his 
name  uniformly. 

Jacob  Burnet. 

Jacob  Burnet,  a  son  of  William  Burnet,  surgeon-general  in  the  Revo- 
lution, and  the  great-grandson  of  Bishop  Gilbert  Burnet  of  Sarum, 
was  born  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  on  February  22,  1770.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1791.  He  studied  law, 
and  in  1796  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  at  Cincinnati.  He  at  once 
took  a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  new  state,  and  was  from  1799 
to  1803  a  member  of  the  territorial  legislature.  From  1821  to  1828  he 
was  a  judge  of  the  Ohio  Supreme  Court.  From  1828  to  1831  he  was 
United  States  Senator.  In  all  the  affairs  of  the  state  he  was  active  and 
influential.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Lancastrian  School  and 
also  of  Cincinnati  College,  of  which  he  ser\ed  for  some  time  as  presi- 
dent. He  reorganized  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  and  was  for  many 
years  president  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He  ^vas  a  man  of  great  charm 
of  manner,  able,  upright,  and  honoured  in  the  city  where  he  lived  for 
more  than  fifty  years.  He  had  an  excellent  literary  style,  and  through 
the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  was  made  a  member  of  the  French  Acad- 
emy, an  honour  then  bestowed  upon  few  Americans.  His  notes  on 
"The  Early  Setdement  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,"  published  in 
1847,  are  a  standard  authority.  He  died  at  Cincinnati  on  May  10, 
1853,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 

C  21  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

George  JVhitejield  Burnet. 

George  Whitefield,  a  son  of  Dr.  William  Burnet,  was  graduated  from 
the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1792.  He  studied  law,  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1796,  was  admitted  an  attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
Jersey.  He  practised  with  success  in  Newark  for  some  time.  He  then 
joined  his  brother  Jacob  in  Ohio,  and  died  at  Cincinnati  in  1800. 


JOSEPH  McKNITT  ALEXANDER 

JOSEPH  McKnitt,  a  son  of  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  noted  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence, was  born  in  North  Carolina.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  in  1792.  Returning  to  his  native  state,  he  studied 
medicine,  and  gained  by  his  practice  both  reputation  and  wealth. 
Practical  judgement  and  sound  common  sense  \\ere  his  prevailing 
characteristics.  He  died  in  1841. 


[  From  Joseph  McKnitt  Alexander  ] 

Mount  prospeft. 

Dear  Friend: 

OPPORTUNITIES  at  this  distance  are  generally  few 
especially  in  the  winter.  When  I  left  you  I  promised 
myself  much  happiness  in  knowing  the  different  imployments 
of  my  fellow  students,  in  frequently  hearing  from  that  place 
which  was  once  so  agreeable  to  me,  but  the  anticipation  of  this 
source  of  happiness  has  been  all  &  perhaps  the  greatest  I  ever 
shall  receive,  immaginary  happiness  is  generally  drawn  in  so 
high  a  grade  that  the  enjoyment  rarely  fills  it.  In  general,  dis- 
appointment in  pursuit,  not  as  full  an  enjoyment  as  expe6led, 
&  the  uncertainty  of  this  pleasure  being  permanent  imbitters 
the  whole  series  of  human  a6lions,  but  I  am  not  yet  a  preacher. 
I  am  informed  that  your  once  worthy  room-mate  has  gone 
to  wing  the  boundiless  ages  of  eternity.  Stoped  in  the  career 
of  his  litterary  acquisitions  he  has  gone  to  learn  the  unknown, 
&  taste  the  pleasure  of  another  world,  little  did  I  expe6l  that 
would  have  been  the  last  autumn  he  vv^as  ever  to  enjoy — 
•^  "what  ever  is  is  right."  Dav'  M'^Kee  had  this  winter  some 
alarming  symptoms  of  a  consumption — spat  blood  two  week 
&  frequently  discharged  large  quantities — pain  in  his  breast 

:  23  D 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

&  he  was  much  alarmed, — has  now  perfectly  recovered.  Tho 
is  yet  so  lean  that  you  would  odds  by  all  the  trigers  &  flints 
in  the  French  army  &  by  all  the  rabits  in  Carolina  that  he  was  in 
love.  I  have  spent  this  winter  principly  in  reading,  tho'  not  any 
particular  branch.  Cha**  Harris  is  now  entered  on  the  study  of 
physic,  tho  privately  he  continues  to  teach  in  Virginia,  how  long 
his  stay  there  may  be  I  do  not  know.  I  have  heard  from  Chest- 
nut &  Taylor  both  well,  the  latter  studies  law  in  Charleston. 

In  this  remote  corner  we  read  with  pleasure  the  success  of 
/  the  French,  but  would  often  prescribe  laws  to  regulate  their 
'  proceedings,  there  now  depends  the  greatest  cause  that  ever 
was  decided  by  the  fate  of  war — all  european  crowns  must 
fall  at  the  shrine  of  liberty  or  France  again  be  subjeil:  to  the 
pleasure  of  a  despot.  To  view  the  contest  how  can  we  hope 
for  l^torn']  France  has  hitherto  been  checked  by  the  [^toni'] 
England  &  now  much  weakened  Qtorw^  point  of  numbers  has 
to  cope  with  all  Europe.  Who  can  tell  the  ways  of  providence 
— this  may  be  the  means  of  hastily  establishing  that  liberty 
in  all  the  world  which  first  dawned  in  America,  may  we  live 
to  see  this  event  produced. 

I  hope  you  will  not  give  opportunity  to  the  ...  to  govern  you 
— if  ever  they  become  able  you  may  expert  a  most  severe 
scourging  then  you  wish  for.  To  you  however  there  is  no 
danger  whilst  the  present  Seniors  remain,  I  long  to  hear  from 
you,  &  particularly  our  society.  A  letter  on  this  subjec^l  or  any 
other  would  afford  great  pleasure  to  your  ever  loving  brother- 
friend 

&  Humble  serv^. 

J'"  M.  Alexander 
April  23"  1793 
Jn°  H.  Hobart 

Remember  me  to  all  my  worthy  friends.  As  Dav'  is  study- 


JOSEPH  McKNITT  ALEXANDER 

ing  law  I  will  send  a  habeas  corpus  for  Terhune  provided  he 
does  not  write  &  I  know  M'^Kee  will  endeavor  to  indi6l  hun. 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Student,  Princeton,  N  Jersey 
by  M'  Cruiser 


ANNOTATIONS 

Death  of  a  Room-mate. 

In  the  fall  of  1910,  through  the  kindness  of  Professor  Charles  Greene 
Rockwood  of  Princeton  University,  a  search  was  made  among  the 
archives  of  the  University  for  material  concerning  the  student  and 
tutorial  life  of  John  Henry  Hobart,  but  without  discovering  any  facts 
not  alreadv  known.  Mr.  Harry  demons,  the  learned  and  capable 
Reference  Librarian,  made  a  further  search  in  Februarj-,  1911,  with 
the  hope  of  finding  the  name  of  the  room-mate  of  Mr.  Hobart  who 
had  died  suddenly.  In  a  letter  of  February  15,  1911,  he  says :  "My 
search  then  and  further  search  to-day  have  failed  to  reveal  any  col- 
lege records  showing  the  assignment  of  rooms  from  1790  to  1800. 
Our  earliest  copy  of  the  annual  catalogue  is  for  the  year  1805.  The 
earlier  triennial  catalogues  do  not  indicate  place  of  residence  in  college, 
nor  do  the  minutes  of  the  Faculty  and  of  the  Trustees.  The  fire  which 
ruined  the  interior  of  Nassau  Hall  in  1802  destroyed  other  records 
which  might  possibly  have  given  this  particular  information." 

David  McKee. 

David  McKee  probably  did  not  graduate. 

Charles  Wilson  Harris. 

Charles  Wilson  Harris  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
in  1792.  He  became  a  trustee  and  professor  of  mathematics  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  North  Carolina. 

James  Chestnut. 

James  Chestnut  was  a  native  of  South  CaroHna,  and  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1792,  College  of  New  Jersey.  He  became  a  planter  in  his 
native  state,  and  died  in  1866. 

c  25 : 


HOBAl^T  CORRESPONDENCE 

Bennet  Taylor. 

Bennet  Taylor  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Between  him  and  Mr.  Ho- 
bart  was  a  strife  for  the  first  place  in  the  class.  Mr.  Hobart  was  a 
member  of  the  famous  Whig  Society,  and  Mr.  Taylor  of  the  equally 
well  known  Clio  Society.  Between  them  there  was  an  intense  rivalry. 
It  is  said  that  their  scholarship  was  so  nearly  equal  that  tlie  faculty 
could  not  decide  betw  een  them.  Dr.  McVickar  thus  tells  the  storj- : 
"The  Senatus  Academicits  wtve  understood  to  be  equally  divided  — 
one-half  voting  for  Hobart,  the  other  for  Taylor.  At  the  head  of  the 
first  stood  his  friend  the  vice-president,  whose  opinion  carried  great 
weight ;  the  other  was  led  by  the  senior  professor,  Dr.  Minto,  an  old 
gentleman,  who  added  to  a  very  sound  judgement,  great  zeal,  and 
long  experience.  Neither  party  being  willing  to  give  way,  and  no 
means  as  it  would  seem  being  provided  for  the  decision  of  such  a  case, 
they  resorted,  it  is  said,  to  the  summary  but  very  unclassical  proced- 
ure of  the  tossing  up  of  a  coin.  As  it  rose  in  the  air.  Dr.  Smith,  as 
if  to  secure  the  omen,  cried  out,  'Heads  for  Hobart,'  and  heads  it 
was."  [Early  Years,  p.  35.] 

No  public  commencement,  however,  was  held  at  Princeton  in  17^3, 
for  late  in  the  summer  an  epidemic  of  yello\v  fe\er  broke  outTn  Phila- 
delphia. It  was  the  first  time  this  terrific  scourge  had  visited  the  coun- 
try. So  terrified  were  the  people  in  every  town  that  often  they  aban- 
doned their  houses  and  sought  safety  in  remote  places.  The  college 
was  closed  and  the  class  graduated  m  ithout  any  ceremony.  The  term 
"commencement"  was  then  appropriate,  for  the  successive  classes 
were  graduated  at  the  beginning  of  the  fall  term. 

John  Terhune. 

John  Terhune  was  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Tesie  (Bergen)  Terhune. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1793.  His  father 
was  a  house  and  sign  painter  of  much  taste,  and  it  is  said  that  he  even 
ventured  into  higher  walks  of  art.  His  shop  Mas  on  Liberty  Street, 
New  York  City,  and  his  business  was  both  profitable  and  extensive. 
When  the  Revolution  began  and  the  British  occupied  the  city,  he 
went  to  New  Jersey  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  at  Polifly  (no\\'  Co- 
rona), and  became  a  farmer.  His  son  John  seems  ultimately  to  have 
settled  at  Saddle  River,  Bergen  Count}-,  New  Jersey,  as  farmer ;  he 

C   26] 


JOSEPH  McKNITT  ALEXANDER 

married  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Terhune  of  Paramus,  New 
Jersey,  and  had  a  family  of  nine  children. 

Mr.  Cndser. 

Mr.  Cruiser  was  a  native  of  Mapleton.  He  was  a  member  of  the 

Presbyterian  Church  in  Princeton. 

Mapleton. 

The  country  between  Penn's  Neck  and  Kingston,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Millstone  River,  is  known  as  Mapleton,  in  the  township  of  South 
Brunswick,  in  Middlesex  County.  It  was  early  setded,  and  being  only 
three  or  four  miles  from  Princeton,  the  inhabitants  in  former  genera- 
tions were  brought  into  close  neighbourhood  relations  with  the  latter 
in  matters  religious  as  well  as  political. 


C   27  : 


JOHN  CONRAD  OTTO 

JOHN  Conrad,  a  son  of  Dr.  Bordo  Otto,  a  distinguished  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  in  the  Revolution,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in 
1775.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  the  class 
of  1792.  He  pursued  the  medical  course  in  the  School  of  Medicine 
of  the  University  of  Pennsjlvania,  graduating  in  1796.  He  very  soon 
became  noted  for  his  skill,  and  was  for  nearly  fifty  years  a  promi- 
nent physician  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  interested  in  scientific  studies, 
and  was  an  active  member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  of 
which  he  became  a  fellow.  He  was  for  some  years  vice-president  of 
the  College  for  Physicians.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  June  30,  1814. 
His  son,  William  Tod  Otto,  born  in  1816,  became  a  distinguished 
jurist.  His  volumes  of  reports  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  1866-82,  are  standard. 


[  From  John  Conrad  Otto  ] 

Philadelphia  June  29th  1793. 

My  Dear  Hobart, 

I  Received  a  letter  a  few  days  ago  from  Andrew  Hunter, 
in  which  he  requests  the  loan  of  my  conic  seftions.  You 
will  please  to  let  him  have  them  upon  these  conditions,  that 
you  are  not  using  them,  that  he  will  return  them  to  you  when- 
ever you  want  the  book  and  that  he  will  give  them  to  you  to 
transmit  them  to  me  in  the  fall,  for  he  is  so  negligent  that  he 
will  forget  them.  I,  while  I  think  on  it,  will  now  make  out  a 
list  of  honors  which  will  be  imperfeft  as  alterations  in  schol- 
arship and  condu6l  may  have  happened  since  I  saw  you  last 
fall.  Hobart,  L.  S.  Taylor,  E.  S.  Gibson,  M.  O.  Himt,  Skinner, 
O.  Intermediates  Wallace,  Terhune,  and  some  others  whose 
names  I  do  not  recollect. 

Although  you  may  think  the  honors  are  of  small  importance, 

yet  it  is  impossible  to  divest  yourself  of  human  nature  so  much, 

L   28   ] 


JOHN  CONRAD  OTTO 

as  not  to  be  somewhat  anxious  to  see  the  list.  Far  be  it  from 
me  to  suppose  that  your  desires  are  so  sanguine  or  as  great 
as  the  majority  of  the  students  suppose.  No!  your  knowlege  / 
of  their  inefficiency  in  future  life  and  a  proper  sense  of  your 
own  merit  will  free  you  from  much  solicitude;  but  still  as  they 
are  the  honors  of  the  day,  the  rewards  of  merit  rising  to 
eminence,  your  bosom  will  be  somewhat  agitated.  Again  you 
and  my  fellow  Whigs,  a  name  ever  dear  to  my  bosom,  are  to 
celebrate  the  day  on  which  our  country  was  freed  from  eman- 
cipation. That  ardor  for  juvenile  fame  congenial  to  our  little 
republick  and  the  augustnest  of  the  occasion  will  cause  your 
every  exertion.  As  the  day  you  celebrate  is  fresh  in  our  mem- 
ory, and  of  the  valor  of  our  heroes  in  defence  of  liberty,  has 
just  been  displayed,  you  will  catch  their  enthusiasm  and  make 
your  every  a6lion  speak.  And  your  audience,  whose  memories 
have  served  to  treasure  up  the  transa6lions  of  their  lives,  will 
burn  with  rapture  on  hearing  our  various  fortunes  in  the  field 
and  our  final  emancipation.  It  is  a  subje6l  of  all  others,  the 
most  capable  of  exciting  their  attention  and  rousing  their  feel- 
ings, for  it  is  a  recital  of  what  some  of  them  have  suflPered  and 
atchieved.  I  should  be  ignorant  of  human  nature  not  to  suppose 
you  will  all  exert  yourselves  to  the  utmost ;  but  the  occasion 
will  add  a  new  stimulus  to  your  endeavours  and  their  atten- 
tion. Although  absent  from  you,  I  have  a  bosom  that  glories 
in  your  success  and  sympathizes  with  your  superiority  over 
your  rivals.  I  received  a  letter  from  Sandy  not  long  since,  in 
which  he  mentions  that  he  still  remains  in  health  studying  law. 
I  myself  still  continue  plodding  at  my  studies  your  friends  in 
the  city  are  well.  Peter  has  taken  a  notion  in  his  head,  he  says, 
of  seeing  his  friends  in  Jersey,  and  among  the  rest  will  visit 
those  of  Princeton.  We  frequently  are  with  each  other  and 
re-enjoy  our  former  scenes  of  happiness,  he  is  good  company 

c  29  :\ 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  his  presence  serves  to  brighten  my  recolleftion  of  what 
is  past.  You  will,  Please  to  present  my  best  respe6ls  to  my 
dear  Jack  Wallace,  to  Brown,  Hunter  and  to  all  my  friends 
if  you  can  discern  them.  If  you  can  send  a  letter  by  Peter  to 
this  place  I  can  forward  it  Write  as  an  opportunity  will  very 
shortly  present  of  sending  one  immediately  to  Winchester. 

I  am 

your  sincere 

friend 

John  C.  Otto. 
Mr.  Henry  Hobart. 

Superscription: 

Mr.  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 
Mr.  Early's  Politeness 

ANNOTATIONS 

Andrew  Hunter. 

Mr.  Hunter  must  have  left  college  before  graduation,  as  his  name 
does  not  appear  in  the  Hsts  of  alumni  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 
The  letters  after  the  name  Hobart,  L.S.,  indicate  the  highest  hon- 
our, the  Latin  Salutatory.  The  letters  E.S.,  after  the  name  Tajlor, 
indicate  the  second  honour,  the  English  Salutatory. 

Bennet  Taylor. 

For  notice  see  page  26. 

John  Gibson. 

John  Gibson  was  graduated  in  1793.  He  was  noted  for  his  classical 
learning.  He  became  a  well-known  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  He 
died  in  1824.  The  letters  M.O.  signify  Mathematical  Oration. 

Hunt,  may  be  either  Nathaniel  Hunt. 

Nathaniel  Hunt  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  in  1793.  He  became 
a  farmer,  culti^•ating  successfull}'  his  farm  two  miles  from  Princeton. 
He  died  in  1805. 

C   30  J 


JOHN  CONRAD  OTTO 

Or,  Robert  Hunt. 

Robert,  a  son  of  Abraham  Hunt,  a  merchant  of  Trenton,  was  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  Ne^\'  Jersey  in  1793.  He  studied  law,  and 
was  admitted  attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  in  1799. 
He  commenced  his  professional  life  in  his  native  town.  He  died  in 
October,  1802. 

Abraham  Skhiner. 
For  notice  see  page  46. 
The  letter  V.  after  the  name  Skinner  signifies  Valedictory. 

Joshua  Maddox  Wallace. 

Joshua  Maddox,  a  son  of  Joshua  Maddox  Wallace,  was  born  at 
Philadelphia  on  September  4,  1776.  During  the  British  occupation 
Mr.  Wallace  took  his  family  to  his  country  seat,  Ellerslie,  on  the 
Raritan  River,  in  Somerset  County,  New  Jersey.  After  being  taught 
at  home  by  his  father,  he  was,  with  his  younger  brother,  John  Brad- 
ford, put  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Frazer,  minister  of 
St.  Thomas'  Church,  Amwell.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College 
of  New  Jersey  in  1793.  He  entered  the  counting-house  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Cramond,  a  merchant  of  high  standing,  where  he  learned  thor- 
oughly the  method  of  business  then  in  vogue.  He  travelled  abroad  for 
a  year.  On  his  return  he  studied  law,  but  principally  led  the  life  of 
a  country  gentleman.  He  was  a  consistent  Churchman,  and  liberal  in 
his  gifts  for  the  Church  and  philanthropic  purposes.  He  died  at  his 
country  seat  near  Philadelphia  on  January  7,  1821. 

John  Terhune. 

For  notice  see  page  26. 

George  Bibb. 

The  nickname  "  Sandy  "  might  well  apply  to  a  classmate  from  Ken- 
tucky. It  may  possibly  indicate  George  Bibb,  a  native  of  Virginia.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1792.  He  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Kentucky.  He  became  justice  of 
the  court  of  appeals  of  that  state,  afterward  its  chief  justice.  He  was 
elected  chancellor  and  served  a  full  term.  He  also  sat  in  the  State  Sen- 
ate. He  was  United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky  from  181 1  to  1814, 

C   31    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  from  1829  to  1835.  In  1814,  on  the  succession  of  Mr.  Tvler  to 
the  presidency  after  the  death  of  President  Harrison,  Mr.  Biblj  became 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  Upon  his  retirement  he  settled  in  \Vash- 
ington  as  a  lawyer.  He  died  in  Washington  on  April  4,  1859. 

His  personal  appearance  was  striking  ;  he  carried  himself  erect,  and 
walked  with  a  firm  step  when  more  than  eighty  years  old.  He  always 
wore  a  broad-brimmed  hat,  small-clothes,  black  silk  stockings,  and 
silver  shoe-buckles.  Of  his  fondness  for  fishing  the  story  is  told  :  ' '  One 
warm  afternoon  the  officer  in  command  at  the  Washington  Arsenal 
observed  Mr.  Bibb  sitting  on  a  broken-down  wharf  hour  after  hour 
intendy  watching  his  float.  At  last  he  strolled  down  from  the  quarters 
to  inquire,  'What  luck?'  'None,'  replied  Mr.  Bibb.  'I  thought  I 
had  some  bites  two  or  three  hours  ago,  but  there  is  not  a  fish  here- 
abouts, now,  apparently.'  'What  is  jour  bait?'  asked  the  officer. 
'A  plump  young  frog,  hooked  through  the  fleshy  part  of  his  leg.' 
Scarcely  had  he  finished  this  reply,  when  the  questioner,  overcome 
with  laughter,  pointed  to  a  log  which  was  pardy  out  of  water,  and 
there  the  fisherman  saw  his  bait ;  the  frog,  having  got  tired  of  swim- 
ming about,  had  jumped  upon  the  log  and  was  calmly  enjoying  the 
sun."  {^Princeton  College,  p.  258.] 

Whig  Society,  Princeton. 

The  Whig  Societyof  the  College  of  New  Jersey  was  founded  in  1769 
by  undergraduates,  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement  preceding  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution.  It  has  always  maintained  among  its  members  a  high 
standard  of  literary  and  oratorical  ability.  Among  the  members  at  this 
time  in  addition  to  John  Henry  Hobart,  who  was  a  very  enthusiastic 
Whig,  were  James  A.  Bayard,  Robert  G.  Harper,  Robert  Finley, 
Smith  Thompson,  Mahlon  Dickinson,  Jacob  Burnet,  Frederick  Beas- 
ley,  Richard  Rush,  and  John  Forsyth.  Each  became  distinguished  in 
after  life. 

Peter  Early. 

"Peter"  is  Peter  Early.  He  was  a  son  of  Joel  Early,  and  was  born 
in  Madison  County,  Virginia,  on  June  20,  1773.  In  1795  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Greene  County,  Georgia.  He  had  studied  law,  and 
soon  had  a  large  practice.  He  was  representative  in  Congress  from 
1801  to  1807.  He  was  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Georgia,  on 

I  32  ;] 


JOHN  CONR.\D  OTTO 

the  Ocmulgee  Circuit,  from  1807  to  1813.  In  that  jear  he  was  elected 
governor  of  the  State.  He  was  upright,  impartial,  and  sincere.  His 
veto  of  the  "Alleviation  bill,"  passed  on  December  6,  1813,  by  the 
legislature,  on  the  ground  that  it  impaired  the  obligation  of  contracts 
and  destroyed  the  "pride  of  honesty,"  and  in  his  opinion  was  un- 
constitutional, made  him  unpopular.  At  the  close  of  his  term,  in  1815, 
he  retired  to  pri\ate  life,  but  subsequently  served  in  the  State  Senate. 
He  died  near  Greensborough  on  August  15,  1817. 

Thomas  Brown. 

Thomas  Brown  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 

1795. 

John  Conrad  Otto's  Classmates. 

Other  classmates  of  Dr.  Otto  who  studied  law,  and  not  previously 
mentioned,  were,  Eximund  Jennings  Lee  of  Alexandria,  Virginia; 
George  ^Vashington  Morton  of  New  York  City;  William  Ross  of 
Orange  County,  New  York ;  Jacob  S.  Thompson  of  Sussex  County, 
New  Jersey. 


C   33  ] 


ROBERT  SMITH 

ROBERT,  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Corin)  Smith,  was 
born  in  New  York  City  on  November  20,  1752.  He  was  of 
Scotch  descent.  He  entered  the  Revolutionary  Army,  and  served  with 
very  distinguished  bravery,  attaining  the  rank  of  major.  He  was 
wounded  at  White  Plains,  and  was  conspicuous  for  gallantry  at 
Monmouth. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Philadelphia  and  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  dry-goods  merchant.  He  was  distinguished  for 
his  upright  business  integrity,  public  spirit,  and  Christian  character. 
He  filled  many  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  city,  and  was  a  director  in 
manv  companies  and  institutions,  notablv  the  United  States  Bank  from 
the  time  of  its  incorporation  b}-  Congress  in  1 79 1 ,  for  forty-eight  years. 
He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
served  as  ruling  elder  for  nearly  fifty  years.  He  was  a  member  and 
officer  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  of  Philadelphia. 

He  died  in  April,  1838,  in  his  eighty-seventh  year,  leaving  an  hon- 
oured name  and  an  unblemished  reputation.  These  notices  are  found 
in  the  "  United  States  Gazette"  for  Tuesday  morning,  April  17,  1838, 
and  Wednesday  morning,  April  18,  1838:  "On  Sunday  evening,  the 
15""  inst.,  in  the  86'''  year  of  his  age,  Robert  Smith,  long  a  respectable 
merchant  of  the  City.  His  friends  are  requested  without  further  invi- 
tation, to  attend  his  funeral  from  his  late  residence.  No.  9  Washington 
Square,  on  Wednesday  afternoon  next,  the  IS'*'  inst.  at  4  o'clock." 
Death  of  Mr.  Robert  Smith.  We  cannot  permit  the  death  of  an  aged 
and  esteemed  fellow  citizen,  Robert  Smith,  who  died  on  Sunday  night 
last,  to  pass  without  a  tribute  of  respect  to  his  memorv.  In  his  youth, 
compelled  by  patriotic  ardour  he  engaged  in  military  life,  and  served 
with  gallantry  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  afterward  embarked 
actively  in  commercial  pursuits,  and  became  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  benevolent  merchants  of  this  city.  His  generosity  was 
never  withheld  from  misfortune,  and  he  was  an  efficient  and  liberal 
member  and  director  of  numerous  religious  and  charitable  societies. 
The  kindness  of  his  heart  and  the  amenity  of  his  manners  made  him 
many  and  warm  friends.  It  is  believed  he  had  no  enemy  —  he  cer- 
tainly felt  hostile  towards  none.  Universal  benevolences  was  a  feature 
in  his  character  that  stood  forth  in  strong  relief. 

n  34] 


ROBERT  SMITH 

"The  hazards  of  commercial  life  expose  all  who  venture  on  even  well 
planned  speculations  to  vicissitude.  He  did  not  escape  misfortune — 
his  fair  fame  was  questioned  by  none ;  and  he  bore  adversity  with 
a  dignity  and  resignation  that  exhibited  his  character  in  a  new  and 
attractive  light.  Among  the  last  acts  in  which  he  participated  was  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  that  devolved  upon  him,  as  one  of  the  trustees 
named  by  M'.  Girard  in  his  will  to  ^vind  up  the  business  of  his  bank. 
An  unostentatious  but  sincere  and  fervid  piety,  shed  a  light  over  his 
declining  years,  and  he  reached  a  ripe  old  age,  retaining  his  cheer- 
fulness and  his  mental  faculties  unimpaired  to  the  end. 

"He  has  descended  to  the  grave  honored  and  lamented." 


[  From  Robert  Smith  ] 

Philad'!  September  3"!  1793  — 

D^  John 

YOUR  mamma  received  your  Letter  of  the  28'.''  ult?, 
and  approves  of  your  jaunt  to  New  York,  as  the  fever 
still  continues  in  the  City,  tho'  it  is  somewhat  abated,  she  en- 
closes a  note  of  20  Dollars,  &  Inclosed  I  send  you  a  Letter 
of  Introdu6lion  to  Mr.  Robertson  who  no  doubt  will  give  you 
an  invitation  to  stay  at  his  house  while  you  remain  in  the  City. 
Your  Brother  Robert  was  here  on  Saturday  last  &  left  all 
our  friends  well  at  Pottsgrove,  the  Accn'.'  of  the  fever  was  so 
much  exagerated  that  they  supposed  we  were  in  very  great 
danger  in  the  City,  &  he  came  on  on  purpose  to  take  them 
all  there,  your  mama  &  sister  Polly  are  with  us  at  Frank- 
fort where  we  all  enjoy  a  good  state  of  health,  &  they  seem 
perfedtly  satisfied.  I  am 

D^  John 

Yours  Sincerely 

Robert  Smith 

No  superscription. 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATION 

Robert  Enoch  Hobart. 

"Robert"  is  Robert  Enoch,  the  elder  brother  of  John  Henry.  For 

notice  see  page  12. 

[  From  Robert  Smith  ] 

Philad^.  1 1'?  September  1793  — 

Dear  John 

I  WROTE  yoti  a  few  lines  on  Wednesday  last,  the  day 
you  must  have  left  Princeton  &  I  enclosed  a  Letter  of 
Introdu6lion  to  Mr.  Robertson  &  a  20  Dollar  Bank  note,  as 
it  could  not  have  come  to  hand,  I  have  wrote  to  Dr.  Smith  to 
forward  it  to  you  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Robertson  who  lives  in 
Smith  Street  near  the  post  office,  I  also  wrote  him  a  Letter  by 
yesterdays  post  to  the  same  purpose.  Inclosed  in  one  from 
your  Sister  which  I  hope  you  will  find  at  the  Post  office,  your 
Mama  &  Sister  are  yet  with  us  at  Frankfort  where  they 
enjoy  a  good  State  of  health,  the  Fever  still  rages  in  town  & 
spreads  I  suppose  your  Sister  informed  you  that  your  Mamas 
Peggy  Died  on  Friday  last.  Dr.  Hutchinson  is  dead  Mr  Thos 
Willing,  Mr  Hamilton  (S  of  the  T)  are  111 — I  suppose  up- 
wards of  100  have  Died  in  the  course  of  this  3  or  4  days  past 
our  City  is  allmost  Deserted  &  Business  suspended,  please  to 
give  my  best  respects  to  Mr  Skinners  Father  ( who  I  suppose 
is  a  Mr  AbT  Skinner  of  New  York.  I  am 

Yours  &c. 

Robert  Smith 

P.  S.  If  you  should  meet  with  Mrs  Rhea  in  New  York  in- 
form her  that  Mrs  Bartows  family  and  all  her  Friends  here 
are  well,  you  will  find  her  &  Ebenezer  at  Mr  James  R.  Smiths 
in  Green  Street  near  the  Fly  Market. 

No  superscription.  T     qR    "1 


ROBERT  SiMITH 

ANNOTATIONS 

James  Robertsofi. 
For  notice  see  page  51. 

Samuel  Stanhope  Smith. 

Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  is  noticed  on  page  105. 

The  New  Tork  Post  Office. 

The  New  York  Post  Office  was  then  in  a  brick  three-story  house 
on  the  corner  of  Garden  (now  Exchange  Place)  Street.  It  occupied  a 
single  room,  forty  feet  long,  on  the  ground  floor.  From  there  it  was 
removed  to  the  basement  of  the  new  Merchants'  Exchange  on  Wall 
Street,  in  1827.  In  1844  it  was  again  removed  to  the  Middle  Dutch 
Church  on  Nassau  Street,  where  it  remained  until  the  present  Post 
Office  Building  was  completed  and  occupied  in  1875. 

Smith  Street. 

Smith  Street  is  now  William  Street.  It  was  named  for  Jan  Smeed, 
a  glass-maker,  who  was  the  first  resident.  It  was  known  as  "  Smee," 
"  Smeedes,"  or  "  Smit  Straat."  Its  present  name  of  William  Street,  i 
which  was  given  to  it  in  1795,  was  in  honour  of  William  Beekman,/ 
through  whose  farm  in  Montgomery  Ward  was  laid  out  Chapel  Lane, 
afterward  Beekman  Street,  leading  to  St.  George's  Chapel,  built  in) 
1746.  The  American  ancestor  of  the  family  was  William  Beekman  of 
Overyssel  in  Holland,  who  came  to  New  Amsterdam  with  Peter  Stuy- 
vesant  in  1657. 

Peggy ' '  was  evidendy  a  servant  of  Mrs.  Hobart, probably  a  coloured 
w  oman,  as  it  \\"as  the  custom  then  in  Philadelphia  to  employ  coloured 
persons  for  household  servants. 

James  Hutchinson. 

James,  a  son  of  Randal  Hutchinson,  was  born  at  Wakefield  township, 
Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  January  29,  1752.  He  was  put 
under  the  tuition  of  a  famous  teacher,  Mr.  Paul  Preston,  continued 
his  studies  in  \^irginia,  and  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  Phila- 
C   37  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

delphia  with  high  honours.  He  commenced  his  medical  studies  under 
Dr.  Evans,  in  the  Medical  School  of  Philadelphia.  In  1774  he  was 
given  a  gold  medal  by  the  professors  as  a  testimonial  of  his  great  abil- 
ity. He  proceeded  to  London  in  1774,  and  studied  with  Dr.  Fothergill, 
one  of  the  best  physicians  in  England.  In  1777  he  came  home  by  way 
of  France,  and  brought  with  him  important  despatches  for  the  gov- 
ernment from  Dr.  Franklin.  When  the  vessel,  in  which  he  was,  neared 
the  American  coast,  it  was  chased  by  a  British  cruiser.  Dr.  Hutchin- 
son, regarding  the  safety  of  his  despatches  as  more  important  than  any 
risk  he  could  run,  trusted  himself  to  an  open  boat  and  reached  the 
shore  safely,  although  under  fire  of  the  enemy.  The  vessel  was  captured 
soon  after  by  the  British,  and  he  lost  a  valuable  medical  library  gathered 
in  France  and  England  besides  all  his  instruments  and  clothes. 

As  a  bearer  of  despatches,  his  fellow-members  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
were  inclined  to  read  him  out  of  meeting.  A  letter  from  Dr.  Fother- 
gill, approving  the  action  of  his  young  pupil,  allayed  their  apprehen- 
sion and  no  adverse  action  was  taken.  His  brave  deed,  however,  lost 
him  the  favour  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  Israel  Pemberton,  who  was  a  wealthy 
and  influendal  Quaker  merchant,  to  whom  he  owed  largely  his  edu- 
cation. 

Dr.  Hutchinson  served  as  surgeon  in  the  American  army,  and  was 
made  surgeon-general  of  Pennsylvania.  He  performed  his  various 
duties  with  great  care,  and  had  a  high  record  for  his  many  successful 
operations,  and  his  treatment  of  the  soldiers.  Upon  the  evacuation  of 
Philadelphia  by  the  British  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety.  In  the  act  establishing  in  1779  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  was  named  as  one  of  the  trustees.  He  was  made  professor 
of  chemistry  and  physician  to  the  hospital,  and  became  a  member  of 
the  Philosophical  Society.  His  noble  character  and  winning  manners 
gave  him  distinction.  He  was  the  friend  of  everyone,  and  all  respected 
and  admired  him. 

When  the  yellow  fever  broke  out  in  the  summer  of  1793,  Dr.  Hutch- 
inson was  among  the  first  to  give  freely  his  time  and  skill  to  the  suf- 
ferers, working  for  their  benefit  night  and  day.  His  strength  failed, 
he  himself  was  stricken,  and  he  died  on  September  5,  1793,  in  the 
forty -second  year  of  his  age. 


n  38  J 


ROBERT  SMITH 

Thomas  JVilling. 

Thomas  Willing  was  born  at  Philadelphia  on  December  19,  1731. 
He  was  educated  at  Bath,  England,  and  studied  law  in  the  Middle 
Temple,  London.  Returning  home,  he  practised  law,  and  built  up  the 
strong  mercantile  firm  of  Willing  &.  Morris  by  his  integrity,  shrewd- 
ness, and  keen  sense  of  business  opportunity.  He  held  many  important 
offices,  from  that  of  secretary  to  the  Congress  of  the  colonies  at  Albany, 
New  York,  in  1754,  to  that  of  mayor  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  For 
some  years  he  was  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  It  is  for  his  service  to 
the  Continental  Army  that  he  will  always  be  gratefully  remembered. 
With  his  partner,  Robert  Morris,  he  furnished  the  funds  for  provi- 
sions and  supplies.  His  common  sense  counterbalanced  the  ardour  of 
Mr.  Morris.  To  each  praise  should  be  given  for  the  manner  in  which 
they  met  great  needs  at  a  critical  time.  Mr.  Willing  died  on  January 
19,  1821,  in  his  ninetieth  year. 

The  Hon.  Horace  Binney  says  of  him  :  "The  character  of  Mr.  Will- 
ing was  in  many  respects  not  unlike  that  of  Washington,  and  in 
the  discretion  of  his  conduct,  the  fidelity  of  his  professions,  and  his 
great  influence  both  public  and  private,  which  belonged  to  him,  the 
destined  leader  (Washington)  was  certain  to  find  the  elements  of  an 
affinity  by  which  they  would  be  united  in  the  closest  manner." 

James  Hamilton. 

James,  a  son  of  Andrew  Hamilton,  a  well-known  colonial  lawyer,  was 
born  at  the  ancestral  mansion,  Clarke's  Hall,  in  Chestnut  Street,  near 
Third  Street,  Philadelphia.  He  was  well  educated,  and  became  protho- 
notary  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1747  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant-governor  of  the  province.  With  the  natural  dignity  he  pos- 
sessed and  the  perfect  integrity  and  \\'isdom  that  distinguished  him, 
he  was  very  popular.  In  1754  he  resigned,  to  the  great  regret  of  every- 
one. In  1759,  while  in  England,  he  was  prevailed  upon  again  to  take 
the  office,  which  in  1763  he  resigned  to  John  Penn.  He  returned  to  his 
place  at  the  Council  Board  until  the  Revolution.  Having  large  wealth, 
he  gave  liberally  to  the  College  of  Philadelphia  and  aided  every  project 
for  the  benefit  of  the  province.  Although  a  sympathizer  with  England, 
and  loyal  to  the  Penn  family  and  the  Crown,  so  great  was  the  respect 
paid  to  him  that  he  was  entirely  unmolested  during  the  seven  years 
of  conflict.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
[   39   J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Abraham  Skinner,  Sr. 

For  notice  of  Abraham  Skinner,  Sr.,  see  page  127. 

Mary  Rhea. 

Mrs.  Mary  Rhea  had  a  shop  at  No.  30  North  Second  Street,  Phila- 
delphia. Her  son  Ebenezer  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New 
Jersey  in  1791. 

Thomas  Bartow. 

Thomas  Bartow,  a  descendant  of  the  Rev.  John  Bartow  of  West- 
chester, only  child  of  Thomas  Bartow  of  Perth  Amboy,  was  born  in 
that  town  in  1736.  He  settled  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  married  on 
June  30,  1768,  to  Sarah  Benezet,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Benezet, 
"a  most  exemplary  woman  of  the  Moravian  Church."  Four  sons  and 
six  daughters  were  born  to  them.  The  daughters  were  remarkable  for 
their  beauty,  and  were  great  favourites  in  society.  Mr.  Bartow  was 
a  leading  member  of  the  Moravian  Church,  on  its  standing  committee, 
and  served  as  secretary  and  general  accountant.  He  is  called  "a  very 
respectable  merchant."  He  died  on  January  26,  1793. 

^J]i^  Fly  Market. 
The  Fly  Market  is  thus  described  by  a  recent  writer,  Mr.  Rufus 
Rockwell  Wilson:  "Continuing  our  walk  through  Pearl  street  we 
come  to  Maiden  Lane,  threading  the  valley  where  the  Dutch  maid- 
ens washed  their  linen,  and  to  the  site  of  the  famous  Fly  Market, 
so  called  because  the  burghers  of  the  olden  time  pronounced  their 
V's  like  F's,  and  said  Fly  for  V'ly  when  they  meant  \"alley.  The 
Fly  Market  was  set  afoot  in  1706  for  the  purpose  of  securing  regular 
supplies  and  for  fixing  charges  for  meat  and  fish,  and  it  remained 
for  upward  of  a  century  one  of  the  most  frequented  spots  on  Man- 
hattan Island.  The  butchers  of  the  Fly  Market  were  sturdy  fellows 
from  the  first,  and  a  chapter  could  be  written  on  their  part  in  the 
history  of  the  city.  Such  a  chapter  would  have  much  to  say  of  John 
Pessenger,  an  invincible  patriot,  who  during  the  Revolution  rendered 
substantial  service  by  supplying  meat  to  Washington's  army,  and 
in  whose  arms  the  gallant  Leitch  breathed  out  his  life  after  the  batde 
of  Harlem  Heights.  Washington,  who  knew  true  worth  wherever  he 
came  upon  it,  held  Pessenger  in  high  regard,  and  when  as  President 
C   40   ^ 


ROBERT  SMITH 

he  took  up  his  residence  in  New  York,  he  sought  out  his  old  friend 
at  the  Fly  Market  and  gave  him  his  trade.  Henry  Astor,  elder  bro- 
ther of  John  Jacob,  was  a  Fly  Market  butcher,  and  there  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  comfortable  fortune.  Grant  Thorburn,  New  York's 
pioneer  florist,  also  started  business  in  this  market."  [AVw  Y~ork: 
Old  and  Nexv,  p.  40.] 

The  Tellow  Fever. 

This  graphic  account  of  the  pestilence  is  skilfully  put  together  from 
many  sources  :  "But  the  men  who  gave  so  freely  of  their  money  and 
their  goods  little  thought  that,  in  four  weeks'  time,  their  own  city 
would  present  a  scene  of  desolation  and  of  misery  more  appalling  than 
any  on  which  the  sufferers  at  Cape  Franpois  had  looked.  Already  there 
Mere  among  them  the  germs  of  that  terrible  disease  which  has  repeat- 
edly, within  the  memory  of  this  generation,  laid  waste  the  cities  of  the 
southern  States.  Long  afterward,  when  the  danger  had  passed  away, 
it  was  the  custom  to  declare  that  the  yellow  fever  had  come  in  with 
the  refugees  from  St.  Domingo.  But  nothing  could  rid  the  people  of 
the  belief  that  it  came  from  a  heap  of  putrid  coffee  and  some  piles 
of  stinking  hides  that  had  long  cumbered  one  of  the  wharves  near 
Mulberry  street.  However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  the  malady 
first  broke  out  at  Kensington,  and  spread  thence  through  the  whole 
city  with  a  rapidity  that  defied  the  medical  skill  of  the  day.  Nor  is  it 
strange  that  it  did,  for  the  treatment  to  which  the  best  doctors  sub- 
jected their  patients  was  such  as  a  quack  would  now  blush  to  practice 
on  his  dtipe.  The  moment  a  sick  man  detected  the  symptoms  of  the 
disorder,  a  quick  pulse,  a  hot  skin,  a  rough  tongue,  an  inflamed  eye, 
a  dull  pain  in  the  head  and  loins,  he  would  send  in  haste  for  the  nearest 
physician.  The  moment  the  doctor  came  he  would  begin  to  let  blood, 
and  the  sufferer  might  count  himself  happy  if,  when  the  sun  went 
down,  he  had  not  bled  five  times.  Indeed,  one  case  is  recorded  of  a  man 
from  whom  seventy-two  ounces  of  blood  were  taken  in  as  many  hours. 
"  Toward  the  close  of  the  fourth  day,  if  the  bleeding,  the  starving, 
and  the  purging  had  not  killed  the  patient,  he  would  begin  to  show 
symptoms  more  alarming  still.  The  whites  of  his  eyes  would  turn  yel- 
low. His  nose  would  run  blood.  His  stomach  would  throw  off"  a  black 
vomit.  His  body  would  put  on  a  yellowish-purple  color,  and  about  the 
eighth  day  he  would  die.  During  the  first  week  in  August  as  many 
[41    J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

as  nine  died  of  the  fever  each  day.  For  the  second  the  daily  death 
rate  was  seven.  Yet  it  awakened  Httle  comment,  for  the  summer  had 
everywhere  been  sickly,  and  almost  as  many  died  in  the  same  space 
of  time  in  the  neighboring  villages  of  the  bloody  flux.  But,  when  the 
third  week  came,  there  was  scarce  a  family  in  the  city  that  did  not 
know  of  some  one  lying  sick  of  the  fever.  The  streets  were  black  with 
funerals.  The  bells  tolled  incessantly.  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
second  of  August  the  Mayor,  in  great  alarm,  ordered  the  foot- ways 
and  carriage-ways  to  be  cleaned.  It  w  as  full  time.  Along  the  best  thor- 
oughfares the  mud  and  filth  were  deep,  and,  when  the  weather  was 
wet,  were  cast  in  clods  upon  the  foot-ways  by  every  passing  horse- 
man and  by  every  lumbering  dray.  On  the  vacant  lots  and  bits  of 
common,  nay,  under  the  \ery  windows  of  some  of  the  most  frequented 
inns,  the  carcasses  of  horses  and  hogs  lay  rotting  in  the  summer  sun. 
"While  the  Mayor  was  caring  for  the  streets,  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians was  doing  what  it  could  to  check  the  malady  and  calm  the  fears 
of  the  people.  Thousands  of  them,  throwing  a  few  clothes  into  their 
portmanteaus  and  turning  the  keys  in  their  doors,  had  fled  to  distant 
towns  and  villages.  Those  who  stayed  were  now  bidden  to  keep  out 
of  the  sun,  to  be  sober,  not  to  get  tired,  to  put  a  mark  upon  infected 
houses,  to  bury  the  dead  quietly,  and,  above  all,  to  stop  the  endless 
ringing  of  bells.  The  doctors  had,  they  said,  little  faith  in  bonfires  as 
purifiers  of  the  air,  and  much  in  the  burning  of  gunpowder.  No  sooner 
was  this  advice  read  in  the  newspapers  than  the  people  made  haste 
to  take  it.  The  fires,  \\hich  till  then  had  been  kept  burning  on  the 
corner  of  every  street  and  on  the  hearths  of  eAery  house,  were  put  out. 
The  bells  ceased  ringing.  Hearses \\ere  no  longer  seen,  and  the  dead, 
letdown  at  midnight  from  the  casements  of  their  houses,  were  quietly 
carried  to  their  graves  in  carriages,  on  shafts,  or  in  wheeled  chairs. 
Everyone  who  could  buy  or  borrow  a  gun  loaded  and  fired  it  from 
morn  till  night.  But  the  rattle  of  musketry  produced  the  same  start- 
ling eflfects  on  the  sick  as  the  bell-ringing  had  done,  and  the  doctors  or- 
dered it  stopped.  Then  the  people  began  to  burn  nitre  instead.  Indeed 
no  remedy  \\hich  an  old  wife  could  suggest,  or  an  apothecary's  assist- 
ant concoct,  but  had  its  trial.  One  daj^  tobacco  was  thought  a  good 
preventive,  and  the  dealers  in  snuflT  found  it  impossible  to  satisfy  the 
demand.  On  another  garlic  Avas  recommended,  and  in  a  few  hours, 
every  particle  in  the  city  Mas  bought  up.  Some  chewed  it.  Some  put 
C   42   ] 


ROBERT  SMITH 

it  in  their  shoes.  Some  went  about  with  huge  bunches  protruding  from 
the  pockets  of  their  coats.  Some  tried  mud-baths.  Then  it  was  dis- 
covered that  camphor  was  a  disinfectant,  and  in  a  litde  while  every- 
body had  a  great  bag  of  it  strung  round  his  neck.  But  no  medicine 
was  so  much  a  favorite  as  the  vinegar  of  the  four  thieves. 

"It  is  said  that  ^hile  the  plague  raged  at  Marseilles  four  young 
men  compounded  a  mixture  which,  sprinkled  on  their  clothes,  made 
them  impervious  to  the  disease ;  that  they  went  about  among  the  sick 
and,  while  nursing,  plundered  them  of  both  goods  and  money;  that 
one  of  the  robbers  was  afterward  taken,  confessed,  and,  as  the  price  of 
liberty,  disclosed  the  secret  of  the  wonderful  compound.  From  that 
day  it  Avas  known  as  '  Vinaigre  des  quatre  voleurs.' 

"When  the  fever  broke  out  at  Philadelphia  the  story  was  brought 
to  mind,  the  recipe  hunted  up,  and  each  druggist  in  the  city  began! 
to  make  thieves'  vinegar  and  to  assure  the  public  that  the  real  medi-/ 
cine  could  be  had  nowhere  but  in  his  shop.  If  the  purchaser  of  vine-r 
gar  Mere  a  ner\ous  man  and  tormented  with  hourly  fear  of  being 
stricken  with  the  fever,  the  spectacle  he  presented  as  he  sallied  forth 
to  buy  was  most  pitiable.  As  he  shut  his  house-door  he  w- as  careful 
to  have  a  piece  of  tarred  rope  in  either  hand,  a  sponge  wet  with  cam- 
phor at  his  nose,  and  in  his  pocket  a  handkerchief  well  soaked  with 
the  last  preventive  of  which  he  had  heard.  As  he  hastened  along  the 
street  he  shunned  the  foot-walk,  kept  in  the  middle  of  the  horse-way, 
fled  down  the  nearest  alley  at  the  sight  of  a  carriage,  and  thought  noth- 
ing of  going  six  blocks  to  avoid  passing  a  house  whence  a  dead  body 
had  been  taken  the  week  before.  If  he  were  so  unhappj'  as  to  meet  a 
friend  on  the  way,  neither  shook  hands,  but,  exchanging  a  few  words 
at  a  distance,  each  sought,  bowing  and  scraping,  to  get  to  the  wind- 
ward of  the  other  as  he  passed.  When  at  last  the  shop  was  reached, 
nothing  could  induce  him  to  enter  while  another  stood  at  the  coun- 
ter, or  was  seen  approaching  on  the  street.  No  one  being  in  sight,  he 
would  rush  in,  throw  down  his  money,  wait  not  for  change,  seize  the 
package  and,  with  the  cold  perspiration  starting  from  every  pore, 
hurry  home.  There  he  would  sprinkle  the  floor  and  his  garments  with 
the  vinegar,  and  restrict  himself  to  a  prescribed  diet.  His  daily  food 
was  made  up  chiefly  of  water-gruel  or  oat-meal  tea,  clear  whey,  bar- 
ley A\ater,  balm-tea,  or  a  vile  decoction  that  passed  under  the  name 
of  apple-tea.  If  his  head  pained  him,  or  his  tongue  felt  rough,  he  in- 
C   43   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

stantly  washed  out  his  mouth  with  w  arm  water  mingled  w  ith  honey 
and  vinegar,  or  with  a  preparation  of  dried  figs  and  barley-water. 

"  Such  luxuries  and  preventives,  however,  were  far  beyond  the  reach 
of  laborers  and  mechanics.  Deprived  of  their  scanty  wages  by  the  stop- 
page of  every  kind  of  business,  they  fell  a  prey  to  that  peculiar  des- 
peration which  poverty  and  terror  can  alone  produce.  Without  nurses, 
without  money,  without  medicine,  thev  sought  to  forget  their  ills  in 
riotous  living,  and  were  swept  away  bv  hundreds.  Often  as  many  as 
five  dead  bodies  laid  festering  in  a  single  house,  which  no  one  could 
be  induced  to  drag  to  the  nearest  ditch  and  bury.  Shut  out  from  the 
almshouse,  the  sick  were  hurried  to  the  circus,  where  the  public  had 
been  amused  with  feats  of  horsemanship  and  the  jests  of  the  clown. 
The  people  rose,  denounced  the  conduct  of  the  doctors,  and  made 
threats  of  burning  the  place  unless  the  infected  men  were  taken  away. 
In  this  strait  ten  citizens  ^•olunteered  as  nurses ;  the  Bank  of  North 
America  advanced  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor  began  to  seek  for  a  building  fit  to  be  made  a  pest-house.  None 
could  be  found  so  well  suited  as  the  house  of  a  Mr.  William  Ham- 
ilton at  Bush  Hill.  Unhappilv,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  not  in  town.  His 
whereabouts  could  not  be  learned,  and,  as  his  tenant  firmly  refused 
to  quit  the  out-buildings,  the  Guardians  seized  upon  the  drawing- 
rooms  and  bedrooms  of  the  house  itself.  The  Governor  and  the  Mayor 
approved  their  action,  and  a  letter,  addressed  to  William  Hamilton, 
setting  forth  what  they  had  done,  was  published  in  the  newspapers 
early  in  September. 

"Thereupon  Stephen  Girard,  whose  name  has  come  down  to  our 
time  associated  with  many  noble  charities,  offered  to  take  upon  him- 
self the  duty  of  superintending  the  hospital  at  Bush  Hill.  He  was 
assisted  by  Peter  Helm.  But  the  only  nurses  that  could  be  had  were 
prostitutes  fresh  from  the  tippling-houses  and  back  alleys  of  the  city, 
and  they  soon  turned  the  house  into  a  brothel.  Lewd  Avomen  rioted  on 
the  dainties  sent  to  the  sick.  The  patients  died  by  scores.  Their  medi- 
cine was  barely  administered,  their  food  was  scanty  and  ill-prepared, 
their  persons  were  never  washed,  their  filth  was  suffered  to  stand  for 
days  in  the  very  rooms  where  they  lay.  Such  was  the  popular  horror 
of  this  place  that,  rather  than  go  to  it,  the  aiflicted  hid  the  first  symp- 
toms of  their  malady  as  long  as  they  could,  and,  when  unable  longer 
to  do  so,  locked  themselves  in  their  rooms,  or  rushed  out  of  the  city 
C   44   ] 


ROBERT  SMITH 

and  perished  under  haystacks  or  in  ditches.  Nor  did  those  who  quit- 
ted the  city  in  perfect  heahh  fare  much  better.  For,  once  out,  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  go  on.  At  every  seaport  along  the  whole  coast  a 
quarantine  was  laid  on  packets  and  sloops  from  Philadelphia.  Some 
towns  forbade  the  stages  to  pass  through  them.  The  inhabitants  of 
one  burned  a  wagon,  loaded  with  furniture,  on  the  highway.  Those 
of  another  fired  on  a  stage-coach.  Others  put  up  rude  huts  on  the  out- 
skirts, M'here  each  stranger  was  carefully  examined  before  he  was 
suffered  to  go  on.  At  every  ferry  stood  an  armed  guard  to  keep  back 
suspected  persons.  If  a  hungry  fugitive  begged  for  food  at  a  farm- 
er's door,  he  was  given  a  crust  on  the  end  of  a  pitchfork  and  bidden  to 
hurry  away.  Postmasters  would  handle  no  letters  till  they  had  been 
seized  with  tongs  and  steeped  in  vinegar.  Innkeepers  would  admit  no 
traveller  till  he  had  shown  beyond  a  doubt  that  he  did  not  come  from 
the  infected  city.  But  the  saddest  of  all  sights  were  the  little  children 
that,  hungry,  orphaned,  and  homeless,  wandered  through  the  streets. 
No  one  would  feed  them.  None  would  go  near  them.  One,  half  dead 
from  starvation,  was  found  in  a  deserted  blacksmith-shop.  Then  the 
authorities,  moved  to  pity,  rented  a  house,  and  thirteen  were  soon 
being  cared  for.  Still  the  number  went  on  growing,  and  the  Loga- 
nian  Library  was  procured  for  a  temporary  shelter.  There  sixty  were 
placed.  Forty  were  given  to  wet  nurses.  In  all,  one  hundred  and  ninety 
orphaned  children  were  fed  and  clothed."  {^McMaster' s  History^ 
vol.  a,  p.  125.] 

James  R.  Smith. 

Mr.  Smith  was  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Smith  &:  Wyckoff. 

His  residence  is  given  as  No.  211  Pearl  Street,  New  York. 


C   45   ] 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

ABRAHAM,  a  son  of  Mr.  Abraham  Skinner,  a  lawyer  in  New 
XjL  York  City,  with  a  summer  home  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1793.  Not  only  was 
he  a  classmate,  but  the  most  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Hobart.  Dr.  Ber- 
rian,  in  his  ' '  Memoir, ' '  page  17,  says :  ' '  Mr.  Skinner  was  an  amiable 
youth,  of  great  mildness  of  character,  sweetness  of  disposition,  and 
purity  of  manners,  and  in  eyery  way  worthy  of  the  affection  -vx  hich 
was  cherished  for  him.  It  seems  to  have  been  returned  with  a  corre- 
sponding ardour,  and  to  have  suffered  no  interruption  during  the  short 
period  in  which  it  was  allowed  to  be  indulged ;  for  he  was  cut  off'  in 
the  flower  of  his  days,  and  in  the  opening  prospect  of  wealth,  repu- 
tation, and  happiness." 

He  died  of  yellow  fever  on  September  6,  1795.  A  touching  letter 
from  his  father  to  Mr.  Hobart,  written  the  same  day,  is  printed  by 
Dr.  McVickar  in  his  "Early  Years  of  Bishop  Hobart,"  on  page  57. 
Both  Dr.  Berrian  and  Dr.  McVickar  mention  "  above  sixty  letters  " 
of  Mr.  Hobart  to  his  friend  to  which  they  had  access.  Extracts  from 
six  of  them  are  given  by  Dr.  McVickar  on  page  50  of  the  "Early 
Years,"  and  a  few  short  excerpts  by  Dr.  Berrian  on  page  17  of  the 
"Memoir." 


[From  Abraham  Skix.ver,  Jr.] 

Jamaica,  Oft'.   19'''  '793 

My  Dear  Friend — 

I  Received  your  letter  by  D''.  Minto,  as  well  as  two  others 
by  the  Mail.  They  all  are  witnesses  of  your  AfFe6lion  for 
me,  which  instead  of  diminishing  increases  daily.  If  it  were 
possible  for  language  to  paint  my  love  for  my  Dear  Hobart, 
you  would  in  this  letter  see  the  image  of  my  heart.  Since 
I  left  you,  I  have  had  very  little  rest  on  your  account,  but 
the  arrival  of  your  Letter  from  Frankfort  gave  me  a  little 
comfort.  My  Dear  Hobart,  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  Sat- 
C   46  J 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

isfaftion  I  experienced,  when  I  heard  of  the  welfare  of  your 
Dear  Relations.  The  distress  of  the  City  of  Phil'',  is  by  all  ac- 
count beyond  description,  and  the  very  idea  of  your  Mama's 
situation  gave  me  unhappiness.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are 
going  to  ride  about  the  Country  a  little  and  amuse  yourself. 
It  only  gives  me  unhappiness  that  I  am  not  with  you;  but 
still  My  Dear  Hobart  I  am  upheld  by  the  hope  of  living  with 
you.  This  is  a  comforting  thought,  and  when  effe6led  will  be 
a  happy  change  for  me.  You  mentioned  in  your  letter  a  desire 
of  my  secrecy  of  what  you  had  written  about  this  affair. 

I  have  nothing  to  say  in  this  matter,  but  that  every  exertion 
on  my  part  shall  be  made  to  bring  our  plan  into  effe6l.  Your 
Dear  Sister's  tender  &  Affe6lionate  heart,  I  well  know,  is  at 
any  time  willing  to  serve  you.  And  altho'  Mr.  Smith  is  rather 
of  a  reserved  disposition,  yet  as  he  is  a  good  &  worthy  man, 
when  he  knows  his  brother's  situation  he  will  certainly  en- 
deavor to  make  him  happy.  Oh  my  Dear  Hobart,  let  us  use 
our  utmost  endeavours  to  bring  us  together. 

I  wrote  you  a  Letter,  dire6led  to  Phil^.  sometime  ago,  but 
until  the  arrival  of  your's,  I  scarcely  knew  where  to  dire6l.  I 
saw  an  account  published  in  the  paper  of  letters  at  the  Post 
Office  in  New  York.  Among  other's  I  saw  your  name.  I  intend 
therefore  to  go  to  New  York  in  a  short  time  &  take  it  out  for 
you  &  send  it  with  a  letter  of  mine.  I  date  this  Letter  at  Ja- 
maica, but  am  writing  it  at  West  Chester  where  I  lately  came 
to  see  my  Uncle  Graham  who  has  been  a  long  time  very  ill 
and  is  at  length  gone  to  the  other  world.  He  died  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  before  my  arrival  at  the  house ;  and  of  consequence  I 
am  at  present  in  a  scene  of  confussion  &  trouble.  My  thoughts, 
as  usual,  run  upon  you,  who  are  as  dear  to  me  as  any  Rela- 
tion I  have  in  the  world.  I  thought  as  I  should  not  have  an 
opportunity  of  writing  in  a  few  days  to  you  I  would  not  miss 

C   47   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

the  present  little  time  I  have.  z\s  to  the  circumstance  you  men- 
tion, it  is  true  I  borrowed  Ten  Doll",  of  M'.  Agnew  {^torn  oiif], 
and  carried  Money  to  pay  him  &  other  small  Debts  I  had  con- 
tracted, I  confessed  my  Dear  Hobart,  it  was  wrong  in  me  not 
to  inform  you  of  it  and  must  plead  your  forgiveness.  I  show'd 
the  Letter  I  receiv'd  from  you  by  Dow,  to  Anna.  She  wishes 
much  to  see  you  as  well  as  all  the  family  My  little  Negro  Jack, 
often  speaks  of  your  absence  with  regret.  I  shall  dire6l  this  as 
you  told  me  to,  but  am  afraid  you  will  not  receive  it  soon. 

My  Sister's  love  to  you,  my  Dear  Hobart. 

Mama  and  Papa  give  their  love  to  you,  and  I  am  sure  would 
be  willing  to  put  into  execution  our  plan.  Accept  this  my  Dear 
Hobart  as  a  testimony  of  my  regard  &  believe  My  friend  I 
shall  be  your's  till  Death 

A.  Skinner  Jr 

Supeniriftion: 

M".  John  Henry  Hobart 
To  be  left  at  M".  Robert  Smith's,  N°.  58  South  Front  Street,  Philadelphia. 


ANNOTATIONS 

Walter  Minto. 

For  notice  see  page  205. 

Jonathan  Graham. 

Jonathan  Graham  Mas  graduated  from  Columbia  College  in  1770. 
He  lived  the  pleasant  life  of  a  country  gentleman  upon  his  ancestral 
estate  at  Jefford's  Neck,  overlooking  the  Long  Island  Sound  near 
Morrisania.  He  was  a  descendant  of  James  Graham  of  Scotland, 
who,  coming  to  New  York  in  1678,  became  a  merchant.  He  was  an 
extensive  purchaser  or  grantee  of  crown  land  in  Ulster  County,  New 
York,  Staten  Island,  and  New  Jersey.  In  1680  he  was  appointed 
alderman  of  New  York  Cit_y,  and  in  1683  was  made  recorder.  In 
1685  he  was  appointed  attorney-general  of  the  province,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Council  in  1687.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Assemblv  and 

C  48  ] 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

a  speaker  of  that  house  from  1691  to  1694,  and  1695  to  1698.  He 
was  a  bitter  opponent  of  Captain  Leisler  and  largel}-  concerned  in  his 
apprehension  and  execution. 

He  built  upon  his  estate  a  handsome  mansion.  A  graphic  account  is 
given  of  its  destruction:  "The  vie\\  in  front  of  the  house  embraces 
Riker's  Island,  the  Two  Brothers,  (called  in  the  Dutch  'Gesellen,') 
the  entrance  of  the  Gate,  and  the  distant  shores  of  New  York  city, 
&.C.  In  the  Graham  mansion,  which  formerly  stood  on  the  site  of 
Mr.  Leggett's  farm  house.  Major  Bearmore,  a  British  officer,  was 
surprised  by  Colonel  Armand  of  the  French  cavalry.  '  November  7th, 
1779,  (says  General  Heath,)  at  night.  Colonel  Armand  proceeded 
with  his  corps  from  near  Tarrytown  to  the  vicinity  of  Morrisania,  to 
the  house  of  Alderman  Leggett,  where  he  surprised  and  took  Major 
Bearmore  and  fi\  e  other  prisoners.  The  secrecy,  precaution,  gallantry 
and  discipline  exhibited  by  the  colonel  and  his  corps  on  this  occasion 
did  them  much  honor.  In  the  capture  of  Major  Bearmore,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  adjacent  country  were  relieved  from  the  frequent  excur- 
sions of  a  troublesome  officer.'  The  destruction  of  the  old  house  took 
place  under  the  following  circumstances:  Col.  Fowler,  of  the  British 
army,  who  had  dispossessed  the  Graham  family,  and  made  it  his  o\\  n 
quarters,  invited  all  the  officers  and  gentry  in  the  neighborhood  to  dine 
with  him,  preparatory  to  his  change  of  quarters.  The  company  were 
assembled,  and  all  seemed  gay  and  happy.  The  more  youthful  of  both 
sexes  were  wandering  about  the  lawn,  enjoying  the  beauty  of  the 
prospect,  when  a  ser\ant,  (one  of  Mr.  Graham's  slaves,)  announced 
the  important  fact,  '  Dinner  is  on  the  table.'  All  turned  their  faces  to 
the  banqueting  room,  but  before  any  one  entered  the  door,  there  was 
a  cry  of  fire  heard.  Col.  Fowler  seemed  to  think  the  dinner  was  more 
important  than  the  building;  he  ordered  e\erything  removed  from 
the  table,  the  gendemen  assisting,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  table 
and  contents  were  removed  to  the  shade  of  a  large  willow,  where  all 
seated  themselves,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  the  meal  and  the  burning. 
The  house  was  utterly  consumed,  with  the  contents,  before  the  com- 
pany separated.  No  effort  was  made  to  save  an  article  not  required 
for  the  better  enjoyment  of  their  meal.  The  same  evening  Col.  Fow- 
ler conducted  a  marauding  party  into  the  vicinity  of  Eastchester, 
where  he  was  attacked  and  fell  mortally  wounded.  Being  brought 
back  to  the  house  of  Cornelius  Van  Ranc,  overseer  of  Mr.  Graham's 

[  49   3 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

farm,  he  expired  that  night."  [Boltou''sHi.st()rifofJFestchester,  vol.  ii, 
p.  449.] 

Mr.  Graham  died  on  January  21,  1800,  leaving  his  large  property 
to  his  five  children. 

Daniel  Agnew. 

See  sketch  preceding  letter  of  February  23,  1798,  in  \^olume  II. 

Dow  Ditmars. 

"Dow"  must  be  Dow  Ditmars,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1793. 
He  studied  medicine,  and  settled  at  Hell  Gate,  now  Astoria,  New 
York  Citv.  Union  Hall  Academy,  Jamaica,  has  for  nearly  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  years  been  the  trainer  of  men  who  in  after  life  have 
taken  distinguished  and  useful  places  in  the  Church  and  in  the  state. 
Among  its  principals  ha\e  been  Dr.  Lewis  E.  A.  Eigenbrodt,  an 
early  educator  of  advanced  educational  views,  father  of  the  late  Pro- 
fessor Eigenbrodt  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  and  Henry 
Onderdonk,  Jr.,  the  best  authority  upon  Long  Island  local  history. 

Gloriana  Skinner. 

In  the  records  of  St.  George's  Church,  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  is 
found  this  entry  :  "  1774  Aug  7'''  Baptized  at  Hempstead,  L.I.  Glori- 
ana Cornell  daughter  of  Abraham  &  Catherine  Skinner  of  New  York 
by  the  Rev.  Leonard  Cutting  Rector  of  St.  Georges."  This  is  the  sister 
referred  to  by  the  name  of  Anna.  In  the  records  of  Trinity  Parish, 
New  York  City,  is  this  entry  in  the  book  of  Marriages  :  "1796.  Sep- 
tember 26.  Alexander  Hussock  and  Gloriana  Skinner  bv  the  Rev. 
Abraham  Beach,  D.D." 


L  50  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

JAMES,  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret  Robertson,  was  born  near 
Falkirk,  Scotland,  on  January  28,  1772.  He  was  educated  in  the 
parish  school  of  his  native  town,  and  displayed  a  fondness  for  books 
and  literature.  The  narrow  means  of  his  parents  prevented  them 
from  sending  their  son  to  college.  When  only  eighteen,  he  sailed  for 
New  York,  where  his  uncle  Alexander  was  established  in  a  prosperous 
business.  He  remained  with  him  until  1793,  when  he  was  invited  by 
Mr.  Robert  Smith  to  accept  a  clerkship  in  his  store,  in  Philadelphia. 
In  this  position  he  sho^\■ed  great  ability.  He  appears  to  have  managed 
the  financial  affairs  of  the  concern  to  a  great  extent.  His  love  of  learning 
had  not  deserted  him,  and  he  used  every  possible  method  to  extend  his 
kno\\ledge  of  men  and  books.  When  onl}-  t\\ enty-one,  he  purchased 
from  his  scanty  funds  a  share  in  the  Library  Companyiof  Philadelphia. 
Soon  after,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Fine  Arts  Society.  His  letters 
show  that  he  was  a  close  observer  of  current  events,  could  comment  on 
them  with  shrewdness  and  ability,  that  he  kept  himself  thoroughly  in- 
formed on  the  topics  of  the  day,  and  knew  the  best  books  of  the  period. 

Early  in  his  business  career,  by  close  economj-  he  accumulated 
enough  money  to  make  mercantile  ventures  for  himself  in  ships  trad- 
ing to  the  West  Indies  and  other  places.  There  are  still  pending  at  this 
writing,  before  the  commission  for  the  payment  of  the  French  spolia- 
tion claims  for  damages  done  to  American  vessels  and  goods  by  French 
privateers  and  cruisers  in  the  closing  jears of  the  eighteenth  centurj^, 
several  claims  for  losses  incurred  by  Mr.  Robertson. 

After  serving  as  clerk  for  some  years,  he  became  a  partner  of  Mr. 
Smith.  The  firm  lost  heavily  b)'  the  Embargo,  and  the  War  of  1812. 
In  1827  his  recognized  knowledge  of  finance  brought  him  the  offer 
of  the  position  of  cashier  of  the  United  States  Branch  Bank  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  which  he  accepted.  Here  he  was  highly  honoured, 
and  was  considered  an  authority  upon  the  intricate  problems  of  bank- 
ing. Resigning  about  1835,  he  became  president  of  the  Bank  of  Rich- 
mond. He  returned  to  Philadelphia  before  1840  and  lived  in  dignified 
ease  and  retirement.  He  \vas  one  of  the  financial  experts  chosen  to 
wind  up  the  affairs  of  the  United  States  Bank  of  Philadelphia. 

On  June  12,  1800,  Mr.  Robertson  was  happily  married  at  Frank- 
ford,  by  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  to  Hannah  Webster  Ruff,  a 
C  51    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

daughter  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  and  Deborah  (Pratt)  Ruff  of  Abingdon, 
Maryland,  and  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Hobart.  Mrs.  Hannah  Rob- 
ertson died  on  November  15,  1807. 

Their  children  were : 

Margaretta,  born  March  14,  1801 ;  died  May  22,  1872. 

Rebecca  Smith,  born  December  29,  1802;  died  March  19,  1861. 

Helen,  born  March  14,  1805;  died  October  1,  1881. 

Mary,  born  October,  1807;  died  December  14,  1807. 

After  some  years  Mr.  Robertson  married  Mary  Clarkson  of  Eng- 
land, a  ward  of  Judge  Edwards  of  Frankford.  Mrs.  Mary  Robert- 
son died  on  January  10,  1852,  in  her  seventj'-sixth  year. 

Their  children  were : 

Fraxcis,  born  1813;  died  September  10,  1816. 

Elizabeth,  born  1814;  died  May  31,  1860. 

Mary  Daniels,  born ;  died,  1870. 

John,  born,  1824;  died,  1830. 

Mr.  Robertson  died  at  his  home  in  Spruce  Street,  East  of  Sixteenth 
Street,  Philadelphia,  on  January  28,  1854,  being  exactly  eighty-two 
years  old.  He  was  buried  in  Christ  Churchyard,  Philadelphia,  in  a 
plot  adjoining  that  of  Captain  Enoch  Hobart.  In  the  same  plot  are  the 
graves  of  his  wife  Helen,  their  infant  daughter  Mary,  his  second  wife 
Mar}',  and  their  children  Francis  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Robertson's  only  living  descendant  is  Miss  Helen  Robertson 
Croes.  She  is  also  a  granddaughter  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Croes,  the  first 
Bishop  of  New  Jersey.  She  has  manv  family  treasures,  including  the 
Robertson  family  Bible  and  a  sampler  worked  by  Rebecca  Claypoole 
in  1718. 


[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  July  2  2'',   1794. 

Dear  John, 

I  Received  your  letter  by  last  Saturdays  post,  with  the  cop- 
ies of  two  Diplomas  which  you  desire  me  to  get  written 
for  you.  As  you  doubtless  wisli  to  have  them  well  executed, 
I  think  M".  James  Smith  the  fittest  person  I  could  employ  to 

n  52  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

write  them.  I  had  not  an  opportunity  of  seeing  him  untill  yes- 
terday, as  he  had  gone  into  the  country  before  I  received  your 
letter.  He  engages  to  do  them  well  and  within  the  time  you 
mention.  Upon  enquiring  after  the  parchment  to  write  them 
on,  I  find  there  are  two  kinds  used:  common  parcliment  and 
vellum.  M^  Smith  informs  me  that  the  greatest  proportion  of 
the  Diplomas  he  has  written  has  been  on  the  latter,  but  as  it  is 
nearly  double  the  price  of  the  former  on  account  of  its  superior 
quality,  I  did  not  wish  to  purchase  either  of  them  untill  I  heard 
from  you,  which  of  them  you  would  prefer.  The  vellum  is 
about  two  dollars  a  sheet;  the  parchment  is  only  about  i  doll'. 
I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  by  the  return  of  the  post  which 
of  them  you  would  wish  your  Diplomas  written  on.  I  can  pro- 
cure either  of  them  immediately  after  I  hear  from  you,  and 
they  can  be  finished  by  the  beginning  of  the  week.  I  shall  take 
particular  care  that  they  are  put  up  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
reach  you  safe. 

I  expe6led  when  you  left  this  place  that  you  would  stay  at 
Princeton  untill  the  fall.  It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  if 
you  were  nearer  to  the  city,  where  I  would  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  you  once  in  a  short  time:  but  when  I  recol- 
le6l  how  agreeably  you  must  be  situated  in  such  a  delightfull 
place  as  Princeton  where  everything  is  so  favourable  for  your 
studies,  and  where  you  enjoy  the  company  of  your  old  ac- 
quaintance; it  cannot  be  expe6led  you  would  leave  it,  particu- 
larly at  this  season  of  the  year:  and  I  suppose  it  will  be  with 
relu6lance  you  will  do  it,  when  it  becomes  necessary.  I  am  still 
in  hopes  of  being  able  to  visit  N.  York  in  the  course  of  this 
summer.  Altho'  you  know  that  our  business  is  such  that  I  can- 
not be  certain  of  it.  If  I  can  possibly  get  away,  I  expe6l  it  will 
be  about  the  latter  end  of  the  ensuing  week,  or  the  beginning 
of  the  succeeding  one;  when  I  will  be  very  happy  to  see  you, 

c  53 : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  if  I  can,  to  spend  a  day  or  two  at  Princeton.  I  will  let  your 
Mama  know  in  time  to  send  anything  to  you  by  me  before 
I  go;  and  if  I  Cannot  meet  with  a  safe  conveyance  before  that 
time  to  send  the  Diplomas,  I  will  take  them  with  me. 

The  weather  has  been  uncommonly  warm  here  for  the  last 
few  days  past.  It  relaxes  a  person  so  much  that  they  feel  no 
disposition  to  do  the  most  triffling  business,  even  to  write 
a  letter;  but  it  is  fortunate  that  there  is  not  much  business 
doing  at  this  season  of  the  year. 

There  are  no  news  here  at  present.  Part  of  \^torn'2  which 
M'.  Smith  ordered  for  the  fall  are  arrived;  but  he  does  not 
intend  to  open  them  untill  the  season  is  farther  advanced.  It 
is  highly  probable  that  the  greater  part  of  the  goods  ordered 
from  G.  B.  for  the  fall  will  be  sent  out.  It  appears  by  all  the 
accounts  from  that  quarter,  the  G.  B.  will  make  compensa- 
tion for  the  American  vessels  unlawfully  captured  in  the  W.I. 
At  leas^this  is  the  opinion  of  the  B.  Merchants,  and  what 
they  have  intimated  in  their  late  letters.  It  is  however  but  con- 
je6lure,  as  the  intentions  of  the  Ministry  are  kept  a  profound 
secret.  I  am  in  hopes  that  M^  Jay  will  meet  with  a  favour- 
able reception,  as  the  late  successes  of  the  French  will  induce 
^    the  British  Ministry  to  listen  with  more  attention  to  claims  of 
;    the  Americans,  than  they  would  have  done  if  their  affair  had 
^   been  in  a  more  prosperous  situation. 

I  have  written  a  much  longer  letter  than  I  expefted,  and  as 

it  is  what  I  am  not  much  accustomed  to  do,  I  hope  you  will 

overlook  any  of  its  faults.  I  need  not  say  how  much  pleasure 

it  will  give  me  to  hear  from  you  at  any  time  you  have  leisure. 

I  am  yours  very  sincerely, 

James  Robertson. 

Suffncription: 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 

[   54  H 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

ANNOTATIONS 

James  B.  Smith. 

James  B.  Smith  was  a  sciivener,  with  a  house  and  an  office  on  Vine 

Street,  Philadelphia. 

John  Jay. 

John,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Van  Cordandt)  Jay,  was  born  in  New 
York  Citv  on  December  12,  1745.  His  ancestors  had  held  high  posi- 
tions in  the  province  since  Pierre  Jay,  a  Huguenot  gentleman,  had 
been  forced  to  leave  France  in  1685  after  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes.  His  preliminary  studies  were  pursued  at  the  school  of  Pierre 
Stoupe,  rector  of  New  Rochelle.  He  proceeded  to  King's  College  (now 
Columbia  University),  from  which  he  \vas  graduated  with  honours 
in  1764.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Benjamin  Kissam,  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  New  York  bar.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1768,  and  immediately  had  an  excellent  practice.  In  1774  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  Van  Brugh,  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  William 
Livingston,  afterward  governor  of  New  Jersev. 

Mr.  Jay  took  a  leading  part  in  all  the  measures  for  an  adjustment 
of  the  grievances  of  the  colonies  that  preceded  the  Revolution.  In  1774 
he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  fifty-one  in  New  York  to  corre- 
spond with  the  other  colonies.  In  the  first  Continental  Congress,  as  a 
member  of  the  committee  of  three,  he  prepared,  in  September,  1774, 
the  '  'Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain. ' '  It  was  said  by  Jefferson 
that  it  was  "a  production  certainly  of  the  finest  pen  in  America."  In 
the  second  Congress,  in  May,  1775,  he  drew  up  the  "Address  to  the 
People  of  Canada  and  Ireland."  He  was  a  member  of  the  secret  com- 
mittee appointed  on  November  29,  1775,  "to  correspond  with  friends 
in  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  other  parts  of  the  World." 

As  a  member  of  the  New  York  Convention  in  1776,  it  was  on  his 
motion  that  it  unanimously  approved,  on  July  9,  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  The  Convention  was  migratory,  as  the  British  troops 
advanced  from  place  to  place,  meeting  in  New  York  City  in  May,  at 
White  Plains  in  July,  later  in  the  month  at  Harlem,  and  at  Fishkill, 
Kingston,  and  Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Jay  was  a  constant  attendant, 
shaping  largely  its  work,  particularly  as  chairman  of  a  committee  of 
thirteen  to  prepare  a  plan  of  go\ernment.  Its  report  was  recei\ed  and 
C  55  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

adopted  after  discussion,  on  April  20,  1777.  Under  this  plan  Mr.  Jay 
became  chief  justice,  and  Robert  R.  Li\ingston,  chancellor.  Mr. 
Jay  w  as  made  president  of  the  Continental  Congress  on  December  10, 
1778.  On  September  28,  1779,  he  was  elected  as  minister  plenipo- 
tentiary to  Spain.  As  that  country  had  not  recognized  the  new  nation, 
he  found  himself  without  any  official  standing.  While  waiting  for 
introductions  he  received  despatches  sending  him  to  Paris  as  one  of 
the  commissioners  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain, 
the  other  members  being  Dr.  Franklin,  John  Adams,  and  Henry  Lau- 
rens. Owing  to  the  conflicting  interests  of  France  and  England,  the 
instructions  from  Congress  '  'to  undertake  nothing  without  the  concur- 
rence of  our  generous  ally,  France,"  and  the  reluctance  of  England 
to  treat  with  the  United  States,  her  commissioners,  and  her  authori- 
ties, calling  them  "colonies,"  there  were  very  important  and  delicate 
questions  to  be  settled  before  an  agreement  could  be  reached.  It  w  as 
finally  brought  about  by  Mr.  Jay's  tact,  diplomacy,  and  clear  presen- 
tation of  his  case. 

On  his  return  in  July,  1784,  Mr.  Jay  was  made  secretary  of  foreign 
affairs  under  the  Congress.  He  retained  that  position  until  the  ratifi- 
cation of  the  Constitution  and  the  inauguration  of  the  new  govern- 
ment in  April,  1789.  The  President  offered  him  the  choice  of  any 
position  in  his  gift.  His  choice  was  that  of  chief  justice.  In  1792  he 
was  a  candidate  for  go\ernor  of  New  York  when  George  Clinton  ^\  as 
elected. 

His  mission  to  England  in  1794  is  treated  on  page  65.  He  was 
elected  as  governor  of  New  York  in  1794,  resigned  his  seat  on  the 
bench,  and  served  until  1800,  when  he  refused  a  renomination.  He 
declined  also  the  chief  justiceship  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  retired 
from  public  life,  spending  his  days  at  his  country  seat  at  Bedford, 
Westchester  County,  New  York,  interesting  himself  largely  in  phi- 
lanthropical  and  religious  matters. 

In  her  "History  of  New  York,"  first  published  in  1877,  Mrs.  Lamb 
gives  this  description  of  Bedford  House.  Its  present  owner  is  Colo- 
nel William  Jay,  senior  warden  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City. 
"'Bedford  House,'  the  home  of  Chief  Justice  Jay  for  twenty-eight 
years  after  he  retired  from  public  life,  was  in  process  of  erection  at 
the  time  he  was  called  into  the  diplomatic  field,  together  with  nu- 
merous other  improvements  upon  his  Bedford  estate.  A  large  landed 

:  56  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

property  had  descended  to  him  through  his  mother,  Mary  Van  Cort- 
landt,  located  in  the  Bedford  region  some  forty-five  miles  north  of  New 
York  City,  and  about  midway  between  the  Hudson  River  and  Long 
Island  Sound,  where  they  are  thirty-one  miles  apart.  The  mansion 
was  placed  upon  an  eminence  overlooking  the  whole  beautiful  rolling 
region  between  the  two  great  bodies  of  water  —  a  landscape  varied 
with  sunny  slopes,  circles  of  hills,  charming  valleys,  and  bits  of  river 
peeping  through  rich  foliage.  It  was  not  finished  and  occupied  until 
half  a  dozen  years  later.  But  in  1801  wings  were  added,  one  of  which, 
conspicuous  through  its  garment  of  clambering  vines,  contained  the 
library;  thencefor\\  ard  to  the  end  of  his  life  the  chief  justice  enjoyed 
his  family,  his  books,  and  his  friends  in  this  delightful  retreat,  where 
notable  Europeans  sought  him  as  a  species  of  homage  to  public  virtue. 
It  was  then  a  two  days'  journey  from  the  metropolis,  and  a  mail  coach 
was  not  seen  oftener  than  once  a  week. 

"The  mansion  is  now  the  summer  residence  of  the  grandson  of  the 
chief  justice,  Hon.  John  Jay,  late  United  States  Minister  to  Austria. 
It  has  undergone  comparatively  few  alterations.  Although  railways 
have  cut  their  way  through  the  country  on  either  hand,  it  is  still  four 
miles  from  a  car-^vhistle.  The  estate  at  the  present  time  comprises  at 
least  seven  hundred  acres.  The  dwelling  is  a  half-mile  from  the  main 
road,  from  Avhich  it  is  reached  by  a  private  avenue,  winding  among 
forest  trees  up  a  gentle  elevation,  and  which  finally  cuts  a  circle  in 
a  wide  velvet  lawn,  and  terminates  under  the  shadow  of  four  superb 
lindens  in  front  of  the  edifice. 

"Upon  a  picturesque  wooded  height  in  the  rear  is  a  pretty  school 
or  summer-house  of  stone,  ^hich  the  chief  justice  built  for  the  use  and 
amusement  of  his  children.  His  library,  twenty-five  feet  square,  with 
windows  on  three  sides,  remains  to  the  present  time  as  originally  fash- 
ioned. One  division  contains  the  favourite  tomes  first  placed  upon  its 
shelves,  weighty  folios  of  Grotius,  PufFendorf,  Vattel,  and  other  mas- 
ters of  the  science  of  international  law,  standard  theological  and  mis- 
cellaneous works,  and  the  classic  authors  of  antiquity.  The  table  used 
by  the  chief  justice,  and  four  quaint  high-backed  chairs  which  graced 
Federal  Hall  in  Wall  Street  while  New  York  was  the  capital  of  the 
nation,  lend  a  peculiar  charm  to  the  apartment. 

"As  a  Churchman,  he  was  prominent,  being  a  warden  of  Trinity 
Church  in  1785,  and  from  1788  to  1791."  [Fol.  ii,  p.  399.] 
C   57   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Mr.  Jay  was  a  promoter  of  the  efforts  made  in  1815  for  a  General 
Bible  Society,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  American  Bible  Society 
he  became  its  first  president.  He  died  at  Bedford,  New  York,  on  May 
17, 1829. 

Capture  of  American  Vessels. 
See  note  on  Jay  Treaty,  page  61. 


[  From  James  Robertsox  ] 

New  York  August  13,  1794. 

Dear  John, 

I  WAS  as  much  disappointed  as  you  could  be,  at  not  seeing 
you  when  I  came  thro'  Princeton.  I  was  told  by  one  of  the 
students  that  you  had  gone  to  New  Brunswick,  and  flattered 
myself  that  I  would  see  you  there,  but  our  stay  was  so  short, 
that  I  had  not  time  to  enquire,  whether  you  had  been  there 
or  not.  I  would  have  written  to  you  before  this  time,  if  I  had 
not  expe6led  to  return  to  Philad.  yesterday :  but  I  have  now 
concluded  to  stay  untill  friday.  I  wish  you  could  make  it  con- 
venient to  be  at  the  stage-office,  when  the  stage  goes  thro' 
as  they  only  stop  to  water  the  horses,  and  I  would  not  have 
time  either  to  go  to  the  CoUedge,  or  to  call  at  your  lodgings. 
I  expe6l  to  go  in  the  Stage  which  leaves  this  place  on  friday 
afternoon. 

M"".  J.  Smith  disappointed  me  very  much  in  not  having  your 
Diplomas  ready  when  I  came  away.  I  had  waited  upon  him 
every  other  day,  and  urged  him  to  have  them  ready;  which 
he  promised;  but  seemed  to  forget  them  with  the  same  facity 
with  which  they  were  made.  He  complained  of  the  warmth  of 
the  weather,  as  preventing  him  from  doing  it.  I  waited  three 
our  four  days  longer  than  I  first  intended,  as  he  assured  me 
I  58  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

they  would  be  ready  by  last  monday  week :  but  insted  of  be- 
ing done  they  were  little  more  than  begun  to.  I  was  therefore 
obliged  to  come  away  without  them,  as  there  was  little  doing 
in  the  Store  at  that  time;  which  I  did  not  know  how  long 
might  be  the  case.  He  however  assured  me  when  I  came  away, 
that  they  would  be  ready  by  the  end  of  the  week;  and  that 
M''.  Smith  of  Wilmington,  ( a  brother  of  the  ProfFessor's )  was 
to  go  to  Princeton  the  beginning  of  the  week,  &  would  deliver 
them  to  you ;  so  that  I  expe6l  you  have  received  them  by  this 
time. 

I  suppose  of  have  heard  by  this  time  that  M^  Higginson, 
and  Ebenezer  Rhea,  are  both  dead  of  the  yellow  fever.  M'.  H. 
in  the  Island  of  Dominico,  and  the  latter,  on  his  passage 
home.  M"^*.  Higginson  at  Reedy  Island  on  thursday  evening 
last  and  was  detained  there  with  the  vessel  to  perform  quar- 
entine.  Poor  M"^'.  Rhea  was  here  upon  a  visit,  and  in  uncom- 
mon good  spirits,  which  made  her  feel  the  shock  more  severe. 
She  has,  like  us  all,  her  failings,  but  I  sincerely  feel  for  her 
in  her  present  situation.  She  has  been  flattering  herself  that 
Eben":  would  in  a  short  time  get  into  pra6lice,  and  would  en- 
able her  to  get  over  her  embarrassments.  But  her  hopes  from 
that  quarter  are  at  an  end.  It  is  a  striking  instance  of  the  in- 
stability of  human  affairs;  and  how  short  sighted  we  are,  and 
how  little  we  can  depend  upon  futurity. 

You  must  excuse  the  haste  with  which  I  have  written,  as  it 
is  only  a  few  minutes  since  I  concluded  to  write  this  day,  and 
the  hour  for  closing  the  mail  is  near  expired. 

There  was  a  vessel  arrived  here  yesterday  from  London, 
but  bro'.  no  accounts  later  than  the  7th  of  June.  M'.  Jay  had 
arrived  after  a  passage  of  24  days,  and  was  said  to  be  favour- 
ably rec''.  by  the  Ministry  which  I  suppose  are  only  words  of 
course.  He  confirms  the  accounts  we  have  had  of  the  defeat 

c  59  n 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

of  the  French  fleet:  but  not  a  word  of  the  fleet  which  sailed 
from  the  Cheaspeck. 

I  am  yours  affectionately 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription : 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 

ANNOTATIONS 

Stages  betzveen  Nezv  Tork  and  Philadelphia. 
In  the  "  Manual  of  Philadelphia,"  issued  bv  James  Hardie  in  1793, 
containing  a  directory  and  much  information  about  the  federal  and 
state  government,  as  w  ell  as  the  city,  there  is  this  paragraph  :  ' '  There 
are  at  present  four  stages  which  ply  bet\veen  this  city  and  New  York, 
two  of  which  set  off  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  arrive  at  New 
York  that  evening;  the  one  from  James  Thompson's  at  the  Indian 
Queen,  15  So.  Fourth  Street,  the  other  from  the  City  Tavern,  81  So. 
Second  Street.  A  Stage  sets  oif  from  the  George  Tavern,  corner  of 
Second  Street  and  Market  Street  precisel}'  at  half  past  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  on  Saturday,  at  6  o'clock,  and  arrives  at  New 
York  the  succeeding  day  at  1  o'clock.  The  mail  stage  sets  off  at  1 
o'clock  P.M.,  from  Mr.  Anderson's  at  the  Sign  of  the  Sorrel  Horse, 
39  No.  Second  Street,  carries  only  four  passengers,  and  arrives  in 
New  York  twenty-one  hours  after  its  departure.  The  fare  for  each 
passenger  in  these  stages  is  four  dollars,  and  four  pence  per  mile  for 
way  passengers." 

Nassau  Hotel,  Princeton. 

The  Nassau  Hotel  at  Princeton  was  the  usual  place  for  the  stage  to 
stop.  It  was  built  by  Judge  Thomas  Leonard  in  1757  of  Holland  brick, 
and  considered  the  finest  house  in  the  village.  After  the  death  of  the 
judge,  it  was  sold  by  the  high  sherifito  Richard  Stockton  about  1769. 
It  then  became  the  College  Inn  and  displayed  the  college  sign,  and 
Avas  kept  by  Christopher  Beekman,  until  after  the  Revolution.  He  was 
succeeded  by  John  GW'ord,  "  an  intelligent,  respectable  citizen,"  and 
a  member  of  the  Presbvterian  Church.  In  1812  he  sold  the  hotel  to  Mr. 
John  Johns,  a  most  notable  landlord,  of  whom  many  good  stories  are 

c  «o : 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

extant.  It  was  afterward  sold  to  a  company  consisting  of  James  S. 
Green,  John  J.  Van  Dike,  \\'illiam  Gulick,  and  others.  It  was  still 
kept  as  a  hotel  thirty  years  ago,  A\hen  Atwood  and  Company  ^\■ere 
in  charge.  It  is  now  known  as  the  Nassau  Inn. 

Samuel  Stanhope  Smith. 

The  professor  is  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith.  For  notice  see  page  105 . 

Ehe/iezer  Smith. 

The  brother  of  the  professor  was  Ebenezer,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Blair)  Smith,  who  was  born  at  Pequea,  Lan- 
caster County,  Pennsyhania.  His  father  \\as  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  principal  of  an  academy  of  high  grade.  Like  his 
brother,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  of  Princeton,  he  was 
well  trained  by  his  father.  He  studied  medicine  and  settled  in  Wil- 
mington, Delaware.  He  was  a  man  universally  liked  for  his  gentle 
kindness,  and  was  a  physician  of  very  great  skill.  His  home,  in  which 
he  brought  up  a  large  family,  was  on  Broad  Street. 

Nathaniel  Higgi7ison. 

Nathaniel  Higginson  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 

in  1787. 

Ebenezer  Rhea. 

Ebenezer,  a  son  of  John  and  IVIary  Rhea,  \\as  born  at  Philadel- 
phia on  November  15,  1773.  He  was  baptized  in  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church  bv  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Sproatt.  His  father  is  recorded 
in  the  Parish  Register  of  that  church  as  "deceased."  Ebenezer  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  Ne^\-  Jersey  in  1 79 1 .  He  was  a  brother- 
in-la\\'  of  Robert  Smith. 

The  Jay  Treaty. 

When  it  became  knoA\n  in  the  United  States  that  war  had  been  pro- 
claimed between  England  and  France,  Washington  left  Mount  Ver- 
non, where  he  had  been  resting,  and  returned  to  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment at  Philadelphia.  He  summoned  the  Cabinet,  and  asked  them 
sixteen  questions  concerning  the  position  of  the  United  States.  After 
receiving  answers  from  its  members,  and  by  its  advice,  he  issued  on 

c  61  : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

April  22,  1793,  a  proclamation  of  strict  neutrality,  calling  on  all  good 
citizens  to  give  no  aid  or  comfort  to  either  of  the  belligerents,  and 
warned  them  that  for  every  act  done  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
United  States  they  would  be  prosecuted  to  the  full  extent  of  the  law. 
Before  the  proclamation  had  reached  Charleston,  the  enthusiasm  for 
France  and  the  Republic  as  representing  true  liberty  in  t}Tannical 
Europe,  the  hated  home  of  kings  and  aristocrats,  had  found  expression 
in  an  extravagant  w  elcome  to  M.  Genet,  the  newlv  appointed  Minister 
from  the  Republic  of  France  to  the  United  States,  \\  ho  had  just  arri^■ed 
at  that  port.  He  took  advantage  of  this  to  secure  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, to  point  out  to  safe  friends  of  France  the  great  profits  in  priva- 
teering and  the  necessity  of  striking  another  blow  at  England,  whose 
commercial  supremacy  dictated  terms  to  American  merchants.  As 
he  approached  Philadelphia  the  joy  displayed  bv  members  of  the 
Democratic  societies  was  more  tumultuous.  Great  and  glorious,  to 
him,  was  the  manner  in  which  he  was  ushered  into  the  capital  city  by 
a  great  throng  of  people,  who  met  him  at  Gray's  Ferry  and  escorted 
him  in  triumph  to  the  city.  Deceived  by  such  welcome,  although 
many  who  took  part  were  more  fond  of  France  than  their  political 
opponents  in  the  Federal  party,  he  openly  gave  out  commissions  to 
merchants  to  fit  out  privateers,  had  French  vessels  bring  their  prizes 
into  American  ports  to  be  condemned  by  the  French  consul,  and 
bought  arms  and  ammunition  as  well  as  other  stores  contraband  of 
war.  Many  American  merchants,  allured  by  the  profits  as  well  as 
by  regard  for  the  French  Republic,  engaged  in  the  hazardous  trade 
with  the  French  West  India  Islands. 

When  complaint  was  made  by  the  British  Minister  to  the  United 
States  government,  many  of  the  people  demanded  that  the  neutrality 
proclamation  be  withdrawn.  The  government  acted  promptlj'  and  vig- 
orously, but  the  insolences  of  M.  Genet,  and  his  arrogant  manner  to 
the  President  and  all  who  opposed  his  plans,  grew  more  unbearable. 
He  was  enraged  when  payment  of  the  debt  due  to  France  demanded 
by  him  was  refused,  not  only  because  the  treasury  was  empty,  but 
because  it  would  be  a  violation  of  the  treaty  stipulations  with  England. 
Reprisal  soon  came,  for  English  vessels  seized  many  of  the  vessels  sent 
to  the  West  Indies  and  impressed  the  seamen  as  having  lost  their 
American  citizenship.  At  length  a  request  for  the  recall  of  the  French 
Minister  was  sent  to  the  Directory. 

[   62   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

Even  those  who  at  first  hailed  M.  Genet  as  a  most  firm  friend  of  true 
liberty  and  the  United  States  were  alienated  by  his  course.  Instead  of 
treating  American  vessels  as  those  of  a  friendly  nation,  French  men- 
of-war  captured  them,  confiscated  their  cargoes,  and  confined  the 
crew,  treating  them  as  prisoners.  The  English  depredations  were  in- 
deed great,  but  those  of  France  almost  equalled  them.  The  eyes  of  the 
people  were  opened,  and  the  French  w  ere  no  longer  attractive.  The  tri- 
colour and  libertv  cap  disappeared,  and  the  most  anxious  efforts  were 
made  to  devise  a  means  for  defending  American  ships  and  sailors. 
England  was  the  only  nation  whose  passes  for  vessels  to  ply  the  Med- 
iterranean were  respected  by  the  Algerine  pirates,  who  levied  tribute 
on  the  ships  of  all  nations.  To  add  to  the  grimness  of  the  situation, 
it  was  rumoured  that  the  Algerine  xebecs  were  to  cross  the  ocean, 
with  the  sanction  of  England,  and  even  enter  the  harbours  of  the 
United  States  to  prev  upon  our  commerce.  Measures  for  coast  defence 
were  demanded  and  forts  constructed ,  often  by  volunteer  bands  of  men 
of  various  trades  and  societies,  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1794. 
The  fort  on  Governor's  Island  was  thus  built.  It  is  told  that :  "From 
April  until  late  in  June,  might  have  been  seen,  toiling  without  hire, 
men  of  every  rank  in  life.  The  Democratic  Society  went  down  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  April.  The  Tammany  Society  on  the  Friday  following. 
The  tallow-chandlers  set  out  from  the  Exchange,  the  patriotic  grocers 
from  the  Old  Coffee-House.  The  coopers  met  at  Whitehall  dock.  The 
patriodc  Republican  bakers  gathered  at  the  foot  of  the  flagstaff',  long 
known  by  the  nickname  of  'The  Church.'  The  students  of  Colum- 
bia College  marched  from  the  college  to  the  Battery  and  took  boats 
for  the  Island.  The  patriotic  sawyers  then  followed  hard  upon  each 
other."  [McMaster' s History,  vol.  n,  p.  172.] 

An  appropriation  for  ten  frigates  was  made  by  Congress,  but  with 
the  restriction  that  if  peace  were  made  with  the  Dey  of  Algiers, 
the  work  should  cease.  In  the  meantime  the  distress  in  every  port 
was  great,  and  affected  all  classes  who  depended  upon  commerce  for 
their  living.  Congress  took  up  the  serious  situation  in  January,  1794, 
when  James  Madison,  on  the  third  day  of  that  month,  offered  a  series 
of  resolutions  proposing  to  impose  a  tonnage  duty  on  all  ships  of  the 
nations  which  had  no  commercial  treaty  with  the  United  States,  to 
reduce  rates  for  those  who  had,  and  to  levy  special  duties  on  certain 
classes  of  goods  from  nations  not  in  treaty  relations  with  this  nation. 
C   63   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Should  the  cavil  be  raised  as  to  the  ships  not  built  here  but  owned 
in  the  United  States,  then  the  same  restrictions  should  be  laid  on 
the  vessels  of  such  nations.  If,  in  any  nation,  articles  made  or  grow  n 
in  the  United  States  were  excluded  because  carried  in  vessels  of 
foreign  build,  the  same  exclusion  should  be  made  in  this  country. 
Wherever  unlawful  regulations  had  been  made  and  American  citi- 
zens had  suffered  loss,  greater  duties  should  be  laid  on  the  ships, 
products,  and  manufactures  of  that  nation.  The  debate  was  long, 
and  marked,  it  is  said,  by  "intense  aversion  toward  France"  on 
the  one  side,  and  on  the  other  by  a  bitter  hatred  of  England.  In  the 
course  of  the  debate  it  was  argued  that  by  any  restriction  we  v\ould 
lose  more  than  England,  "whose  riches  are  great,  whose  sources  of 
internal  revenues  are  never  dry,  and  whose  people  are  used  to  bear 
heavy  taxes." 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  contended  that  the  question  should  be 
treated  as  a  political  one.  The  best  time  to  humble  England  was 
when  she  was  engaged  in  war.  A  non-importation  agreement  had 
repealed  the  Stamp  Act.  We  had  manv  grievances  against  that  na- 
tion who  still  held  the  western  ports  which  by  the  treaty  of  peace 
were  to  have  been  surrendered.  She  allowed  the  Indians  to  harass  our 
western  settlers,  and  set  upon  us  the  Algerine  pirates.  Is  it  a  time 
tamely  to  submit?  We  should  remember  the  old  adage,  no  friend- 
ship in  trade.  The  West  Indies  are  entirely  dependent  upon  us.  Our 
lumber  and  other  products  in  exchange  for  theirs  are  needed  there. 
The  governor  of  Jamaica  is  now  telling  of  their  distress.  The  present 
is  the  opportunity  for  the  United  States  to  regulate  its  trade  \\ith 
enlightened  self-interest. 

After  a  month  of  debate,  and  the  consideration  of  other  matters  of 
public  welfare,  the  first  of  the  Madison  resolutions,  laying  a  tonnage 
tax,  was  passed  by  a  majority  of  five  on  February  3,  1794.  The  others 
never  came  to  a  vote.  The  committee  of  the  whole  still  discussed  the 
questions  presented. 

When  the  ravages  by  European  nations  on  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States  had  been  discussed  by  the  Cabinet,  and  correct  state- 
ments of  the  number  of  vessels  taken,  and  cargoes  sold,  presented  by 
that  council  of  advice  to  the  President,  it  was  determined  that  an  em- 
bargo for  sixty  days  should  be  laid  upon  all  foreign  vessels.  The  pro- 
clamation of  the  President  was  issued  in  April,  1 794,  and  the  embargo 
C   64   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

ended  on  May  25.  In  Congress  the  measures  were  thought  insuffi- 
cient. It  \\as  proposed  that  eighty  thousand  militia  should  be  required 
from  the  several  states  and  all  British  debts  be  sequestered.  They 
were  to  be  collected  from  the  debtors  and  deposited  in  the  United 
States  Treasury,  imtil  England  indemnified  the  losses  of  merchants 
and  others.  Resolutions  for  a  permanent  embargo  w  ere  advocated  and 
passed  in  the  House.  This  warlike  attitude  so  thoroughly  alarmed 
W^ashington,  who  earnestly  wished  for  peace,  that  he  determined  to 
send  a  special  envoy  to  England  to  obtain  the  best  possible  commer- 
cial treat}-.  His  choice  was  that  brilliant  statesman  and  financier,  his 
dear  friend,  Alexander  Hamilton.  When  he  informed  Edmund  Ran- 
dolph, the  attorney-general,  of  his  intention,  he  protested,  and  the 
President  received  so  many  letters  with  bitter  and  virulent  denun- 
ciations of  Hamilton,  that  he  abandoned  his  design.  He  then  selected 
the  chief  justice,  the  Hon.  John  Jay.  The  nomination  was  confirmed 
by  the  Senate  on  April  19,  1794.  Judge  Jay  sailed  from  New  York 
on  the  ship  Ohio  on  May  12,  and  arrived  at  Falmouth,  England,  on 
June  8.    ^ 

Defeat  of  a  French  Fleet. 

This  was  the  victorv  gained  by  Admiral  Earl  Howe,  commander  of 
the  Channel  fleet,  off  Ushant,  an  island  off  the  west  coast  of  France  in 
the  Department  of  Finisterre.  The  battle  took  place  on  June  1,  1794, 
when  twenty-five  British  vessels  engaged  twenty-six  French  vessels 
within  a  short  time.  The  British  had  captured  seven  and  dismasted 
ten  vessels.  One  of  the  French  fleet,  Le  Vengeur,  almost  immediately 
sunk  with  half  her  crew.  The  day  is  still  known  in  English  naval 
annals  as  "the  glorious  first  of  June." 

The  Chesapeake  Fleet. 

While  both  English  and  French  vessels,  in  defiance  of  the  neutrality 
proclamation,  entered  the  bays  and  harbours  of  the  United  States, 
there  is  no  specific  mention  in  any  history  of  that  period  of  any  group 
of  vessels  known  as  the  "Chesapeake  Fleet,"  although  ships  w ere  in 
Chesapeake  Bay. 


I  65  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[From  Abraham  Skinner,  Jr.  ] 

Jamaica,  August  14'^.   1794.. 

My  dearest  John 

YOUR'S  of  the  9^1  Ins"^^  I  received  Yesterday,  I  find  it 
replete  with  that  AfFeftion  which  has  already  aftbrded 
me  the  greatest  part  of  the  happiness  I  have  enjoyed  since 
we  saw  each  other.  I  find  the  sentiments  purely  from  your 
heart,  and  the  language  is  really  the  language  of  Love,  Con- 
sider then  what  pleasure  I  derive  from  reading  your  Letters. 
Dear  John  it  is  of  the  noblest  kind,  and  consists  of  more  reality 
than  the  pleasure  derived  from  any  other  source.  Continue 
then  my  Love,  to  promote  my  happiness  by  writing  to  me, 
and  let  us  revive  with  ardor  a  languishing  correspondence. 
Last  winter  I  find  by  looking  over  my  letters,  that  I  recieved 
4  or  5  sometimes  in  as  many  weeks  but  of  late  I  get  not  more 
than  one  or  two  in  a  month  from  my  dearest  Hobart. 

Such  languor  in  writing.  Dear  John  calls  loudly  for  our  at- 
tention and  I  intend  to  write  very  often  to  you  after  we  get  in 
New  York.  I  believe  that  I  have  written,  if  not  more  at  least 
as  seldom  as  my  Hobart.  By  this  I  have  been  deprived  of  the 
pleasure  that  I  always  experience  when  writing  to  a  friend, 
and  of  the  superior  satisfadlion  that  the  idea  of  giving  pleasure 
by  writing  to  you,  is  sure  to  afford.  But,  Dear  John,  this  neces- 
sity has  too  often  produced.  And  I  ardently  wish  to  always 
have  it  in  my  power  to  withdraw  from  others  and  converse 
with  my  friend.  May  I  never  be  deprived  of  this  enjoyment, 
and  may  I  always  contribute  a  good  deal  to  your  happiness. 
To  do  it,  shall  I  aim,  and  if  I  should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  be 
in  my  way  successfuU  I  should  be  very  happy  myself. 

As  to  Cox,  I  was  very  sensible  that  your  discernment,  would 
prevent  deception,  and  I  will  only  observe  that  he  is  a  trifling 

C   66^1 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

man;  The  Letter  you  mention  to  have  sent  by  him  I  have 
never  reciev'd;  but  have  heard  that  he  is  in  New  York  and 
has  made  some  engagements  there  to  build  a  Ship  and  repair 
another.  He  is  unfortunate  in  point  of  Sense,  and  the  weak- 
ness of  his  Judgment  will  soon  set  him  afloat  helpless  upon 
the  world. 

Your  situation,  Dear  John,  at  Princeton  must  recall  to  mind 
many  very  many  happy  scenes;  and  I  should  delight  to  see 
you  at  that  place.  Surrounded  by  acquaintances  with  whom  We 
both  have  spent  many  happy  hours  in  the  Society  and  other 
places  must  give  a  pleasure  unfelt  by  others  destitute  of  a  real 
friend.  But  above  all,  Dear  John  you  have  the  greatest  possi- 
ble opportunity  of  cultivating  religious  impressions,  by  bemg 
with  many  who  encourage  and  not  with  any  who  lead  you 
from  your  own  inclination.  You  have  now  the  opportunity,  and 
pray.  Dear  John,  if  possible  improve  it.  As  to  my  own  heart  it 
is  hard  indeed,  but  not  impenetrable  by  the  power  of  religious 
impression.  I  wish  to  obtain  an  Interest  in  Christ  and  I  see 
my  own  inability  to  do  it.  I  could  wish  for  a  companion  whose 
mind  inclined  to  Religion  and  with  whom  I  might  cultivate 
these  impressions.  But  alas!  in  being  deprived  of  my  Hobart, 
I  not  only  loose  a  friend,  but  one  of  the  most  powerful  human 
means  of  my  Salvation.  I  see  the  necessity  of  becoming  not 
only  virtuous  but  a  possessor  of  true  faith.  This  shall  I  aim 
to  obtain  and  by  the  grace  of  God  thro  his  Son  Do  I  hope  to 
be  successful.  That  this  may  be  the  case  shall  be  my  earnest 
prayer. 

My  Papa  has  sold  his  place  and  got  one  in  New  York,  where 
we  shall  move  the  ensuing  week.  I  am  well  aware  that  living 
in  the  City  will  not  be  of  that  real  advantage  to  me,  that  I 
should  here  derive.  I  know  the  temptations  to  vice  and  thro' 
the  help  of  God  do  I  hope  not  only  to  avoid  them  but  incline 
C  67  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

to  the  Contrary.  Above  all  other  wordly  affairs  I  shall  be  the 
most  careful  in  forming  Connections.  The  unhappy  etfe6ts  of 
being  careless  in  this  respe6l,  You  know  Dear  John,  I  have 
already  experienced.  And  learnt  a  Lesson  by  Experience  Su- 
perior to  all  precepts. 

Joshua  Wallace  spent  [Joni  our\  with  me  this  week;  we 
talked  much  of  the  affair  \JtQrn  out']  and  I  regretted  much  the 
absence  of  my  real  friend.  We  went  to  Rockaway  and  had 
some  pleasure  but  I  should  have  been  much  happier  had  you, 
my  Dear  John,  been  with  us.  I  find  dayly  proof  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  be  contented  or  happy  without  a  friend,  to  whom  you 
can  disclose  the  Secrets  of  your  heart;  with  whom  you  can 
divide  your  enjoyments,  in  fine  who  will  alleviate  your  Sor- 
rows and  increase  your  Joys.  Those  who  have  not  friends 
know  not  their  value  and  are  more  capable  of  relishing  other 
pleasures,  but  when  once  one  has  experienced  the  pleasures 
of  real  love,  he  cannot  relish  those  that  are  less  gratifying. 
For  this  reason  I  was  not  so  pleased  at  Rock^.  for  every  inter- 
val for  reflexion  gave  pain,  as  to  the  absence  of  my  friend  & 
its  efFefts. 

Dow  is  an  Assistant  Tutor  (if  it  may  so  be  called)  in  our 
Academy  =^40  pf  year,  I  saw  yesterday  Terhune's  Brother 
who  tells  me  that  Terhune  confines  himself  continually  at 
home.  I  am  very  anxious  to  see  my  Dear  Hobart  and  should 
be  happy  indeed  if  he  could  come  here.  I  am  with  Affe6lion 
Your  friend 

A  Skinner 

Superscription : 

M".  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


C   68   : 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

ANNOTATIONS 

Cox. 

Mr.  Cox  \\'as  probably  a  fellow-student  who  left  before  graduation. 

Joshua  Maddox  Wallace. 
For  notice  see  page  31. 

Doti'  Ditmars. 

For  notice  see  page  50. 

John  Terhune. 

For  notice  see  page  26. 

John  Terhune's  Brother. 

Terhune's  brother  is  either  Benjamin  Terhune  of  Bergen  Point,  Ber- 
gen County,  New  Jersey,  afterward  of  New  York  City,  or  Stephen 
Terhune  of  Hackensack,  New  Jersey,  or  Jacob  Terhune  of  Polifly, 
New  Jersey. 


:  69] 


HOBART*  CORRESPONDENCE 
[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  August  27'!'  1794. 

Dear  John, 

I  HAVE  delayed  writing  to  you  in  hopes  that  M"^^  Smith 
would  have  had  your  Diplomas  finished  by  this  time.  But 
I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  he  has  just  called  upon  me, 
and  tells  me  they  are  not  done;  and  that  he  has  got  his  hand 
very  much  hurt,  which  will  prevent  him  from  writing  any  for 
a  week  or  two.  For  my  part  am  really  sorry  that  I  recom- 
mended a  person  who  has  so  little  regard  for  his  promises; 
and  also  lest  you  should  be  finally  disappointed.  The  accident 
he  has  met  with  is  no  excuse  for  his  former  neglect.  He  ex- 
cuses himself  by  saying  that  he  was  unwell  the  most  of  the 
time  I  was  in  New  York;  and  that  since  he  got  better,  he  has 
been  much  engaged  in  the  Store.  The  truth  is,  he  is  so  fond 
of  company,  and  what  he  calls  a  mug  of  beer,  that  he  would 
at  any  time  sacrifice  to  it,  the  most  urgent  business.  Since  I 
came  home,  I  have  generally  called  upon  him  every  other 
day,  but  had  to  put  up  with  some  excuse  or  other.  If  you  could 
get  them  written  at  Princeton,  it  would  perhaps  be  better, 
than  to  depend  upon  him  any  longer.  I  could  at  any  time  for- 
ward the  parchment  for  writing  them  on.  However,  if  you 
could  wait  untill  about  the  middle  of  next  month,  I  suppose 
he  would  have  them  ready  by  that  time;  as  he  assures  me  in 
the  most  positive  manner,  that  the  first  thing  he  does  after 
he  is  able  to  write,  will  be  to  finish  them ;  having  part  of  them 
written :  and  he  can  do  them  better  than  any  person  you  could 
employ.  I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  person  in  the  city  who 
writes  them,  or  I  would  not  have  been  put  off  by  M!^  S.  so 
long.  There  are  some  of  the  scriveners  who  can  do  them ;  and 
perhaps  accurately;  but  none  can  write  a  good  hand.  I  will 

C  70  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

thank  you  to  inform  me  as  soon  as  you  can,  wliether  you 
can  wait  for  M'.  S.  finishing  them,  if  you  cannot,  his  having 
begun  them  will  make  no  difference,  as  it  will  be  his  own  fault 
if  he  suffer  any  inconvenience  by  it.  I  would  make  him  be  at 
the  expense  of  tlie  parchment. 

There  are  no  late  news  here  at  present.  I  suppose  you  have 
heard,  the  report  we  have  had,  which  was  brought  by  a  late 
vessel  from  Hamburg,  that  the  French  were  in  possession 
of  Ostend  and  Brussels  about  the  7  July :  and  that  they  were 
preparing  to  attack  Antwerp,  where  the  British  had  their  head 
quarters,  and  all  their  treasures.  It  is  also  reported  that  Gen! 
Clayerfiet  was  mortally  wounded.  The  publick  attention  has 
been  very  much  engaged  for  some  time  past,  by  the  porceed- 
ing,of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Western  counties  of  this  x 
State.  The  commissioners  who  were  sent  to  treat  with  them, 
have  had  an  interview  with  some  of  their  leaders:  but  without 
any  success,  hideed  if  we  may  judge  by  the  chara6ler  of  some  / 
of  the  chief  men  among  them,  their  is  little  probability  of' 
their  listening  to  any  reasonable  terms;  after  having  gone  so 
far.  While  the  repeal  of  the  excise  law  is  made  the  pretence 
of  their  unwarrantable  proceedings,  it  is  the  opinion  of  many 
sensible  men  here,  that  it  is  only  used  as  a  cover  to  their  real 
designs  against  the  present  government;  or  what  is  as  likely, 
it  is  the  avowed  obje6l  of  some  of  the  leaders  to  throw  of  their 
conne6lions  with  the  U.  S.  &  to  form  all  the  country  west  of 
the  Allegany  mountains  into  an  independent  government.  But 
whatever  is  their  object  there  is  no  probability  of  their  suc- 
ceeding. The  Exe6l!:  of  the  U.  S.  &  Penn.  are  determined  to 
a6l  with  decision,  and  if  matters  are  not  settled  by  negotiation, 
they  will  bring  the  rioters  to  a  sense  of  the  impropriety  of  their 
proceedings,  by  the  Sword.  This  however,  is  an  event,  that 

L  71  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

must  be  deprecated  by  every  friend  to  the  peace  and  order 
of  the  United  States. 
I  hope  you  will  write  to  me  soon.  I  am  my  dear  John, 
Yours  affe(5lionately, 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription: 

M^JoHN  H.  HoBART,  Princeton. 


annotations 
James  B.  Smith. 
For  notice  see  page  55. 

Genera/  Clairfait. 

N.  Count  de  Clairfait,  a  Walloon  by  birth,  was  trained  in  the  best 
military  schools,  and  became  proficient  in  every  branch  of  his  profes- 
sion. He  won  rapid  promotion  in  the  Austrian  armv,  and  performed 
excellent  service  against  the  Turks.  He  was  one  of  those  selected  b_v  the 
Emperor  to  lead  the  portion  of  the  army  furnished  b}'  Austria,  which 
he  did  with  much  brilliance  and  success.  In  all  the  rapid  movements 
in  the  Netherlands  he  showed  a  thorough  mastery  of  his  troops,  and 
led  them  either  to  \ictory  or  safety  w  ithout  allowing  panic  to  seize 
them.  He  was  especially  distinguished  for  his  conduct  at  the  taking 
of  Longroy  and  Stanay.  His  defeat  at  Jemappes  was  due  to  the  irre- 
sistible impetuosity  and  superior  numbers  of  the  French.  At  Alten- 
heim,  Quervrain,  Hansen,  and  Farmen  he  showed  great  bravery,  and 
skilfully  opposed  Marshal  Pichegru.  At  Nerw  ind  he  won  a  decisive 
victory.  In  1795  he  defeated  the  French  near  Mayence  and  took  many 
prisoners.  In  that  year  he  was  recalled  to  \  ienna,  where  the  Em- 
peror received  him  w  ith  every  mark  of  honour  and  consideration,  and 
made  him  a  councillor  of  war.  He  died  in  1798. 

Cofiditioji  of  Affairs  in  Europe  in  the  Summer  of  1 794- 
The  condition  of  European  affairs  after  the  celebrated  conference  at 
Pillnitz  in  August,  1791,  between  the  Emperor  Leopold  of  Austria 
and  King  Frederick  William  of  Prussia,  was  critical  in  the  extreme. 
The  ambitions  of  Catherine  of  Russia,  the  unjust  partition  of  Poland, 

:  72  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

the  perilous  condition  of  the  small  kingdom  of  Holland,  and  the  effects 
of  the  Revolution  in  France,  with  the  desire  of  manv  in  that  country 
for  the  acquisition  of  new  territory,  had  brought  about  a  situation 
in  which  war  seemed  inevitable.  The  rule  of  the  General  Assembly, 
under  the  nominal  kingship  of  Louis  the  Sixteenth,  as  a  constitutional 
monarch,  fostered  the  war  spirit.  Those  who  were  constitutional  Roy- 
alists made  effective  use  of  the  vague  assurances  of  the  two  monarchs 
for  peace,  and  their  general  invitation  to  the  European  powers  to  join 
in  restoring  a  sound  go\  ernment  to  France.  War,  they  thought,  \vould 
give  back  to  the  French  king  the  power  of  which  he  had  been  de- 
prived. On  the  other  side,  the  Girondists,  sturdy  advocates  of  a  repub- 
lic, perceived  the  opportunity  which  a  war  would  offer  for  the  over- 
throw of  the  monarchy.  Thus  there  was  union  between  the  two 
parties,  and  a  formal  demand  w  as  made  to  the  Emperor  Leopold  for 
the  dispersion  of  the  army  which  had  been  gathered  on  the  Rhine 
by  the  emigrant  French  princes.  Although  it  was  granted,  war  was 
declared  by  France  in  April,  1792. 

Leopold  had  died  early  in  that  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Joseph  n.  An  army  of  eighty  thousand  men  under  the  Duke  of  Bruns- 
wick was  collected,  and  advanced  to  the  Meuse  in  August.  It  was 
composed  of  Austrians  and  Prussians,  for  the  two  monarchs  had 
combined  together  for  a  defensive  alliance.  As  the  army  advanced,  the 
French  troops  were  seized  with  panic  and  fled  before  it.  The  effect 
at  Paris  was  the  arousing  of  the  slumbering  passions  of  the  mob, 
which  resulted  in  the  attack  upon  the  Tuileries  on  August  10,  1792, 
and  the  imprisonment  of  King  Louis  in  the  Temple. 

The  early  defeat  of  France  awakened  its  martial  spirit,  and  care  was 
taken  to  send  into  the  field  the  best  men  under  the  most  competent 
generals.  In  September  General  Dumouriez  checked  the  Prussian  ad- 
vance toward  Paris,  and  won  at  Jemappes,  on  November  6,  1792, 
a  well-contested  batde,  which  put  all  Belgium  in  the  pow  er  of  France. 

It  was  after  the  disturbances  of  September,  1 792,  that  the  war  spirit 
in  England  could  not  be  checked,  although  Pitt,  as  Prime  Minis- 
ter, was  calmly  and  wholly  in  favour  of  the  neutrality  which  he  had 
promised  both  to  the  allies  and  to  France.  In  November  he  still  urged 
Holland  to  maintain  her  neutral  attitude.  But  an  attack  upon  the 
Dutch  bv  the  French  left  him  no  choice,  for  these  hereditary  allies 
could  not  be  left  helpless.  His  offers  to  aid  Austria  in  obtaining  Bavaria, 
I    73   2 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  to  the  French  government  to  preserve  peace  if  it  would  not  inter- 
fere with  neighbouring  states,  were  of  no  avail,  and  in  February,  1 793, 
France  declared  \\  ar  against  England.  An  army  of  ten  thousand  men 
under  the  Duke  of  York  was  sent  to  the  seat  of  war,  which  was  prin- 
cipally in  Belgium  and  Flanders.  It  is  said  by  John  Richard  Green 
that  it  was  the  greed  of  the  two  German  powers  that  lost  the  day  for 
the  allies. 

Austria  and  Prussia  wished  to  share  in  the  annexation  of  Russia,  so 
as  to  maintain  the  balance  of  power  in  Europe. 

A  new  division  of  Poland  coald  not  have  been  made  had  the  French 
monarchy  been  restored.  Thus,  while  there  was  a  show  of  activity, 
there  was  no  real  wish  to  defeat  the  republican  army  and  make  the 
way  clear  for  a  march  to  Paris.  The  English  troops  were  left  almost 
helpless  in  a  strange  land,  surrounded  by  the  flower  of  the  French 
army.  In  June,  1794,  a  series  of  defeats  was  suffered  by  the  allies  under 
General  Clairfait.  That  well-known  officer  came  to  the  rescue  of  Ypres, 
then  besieged  by  the  French  under  General  Moreau,  and  attacked 
them.  The  battle  raged  for  four  days,  and  finally,  on  June  17,  the 
defeated  army  retreated  towards  Ghent,  and  Ypres  capitulated  on 
June  17. 

On  June  26  Charleroi  surrendered  to  an  army  of  two  hundred  thou- 
sand under  the  Duke  of  Luxembourg.  Ostend  ^^■as  evacuated  by 
Colonel  Vyse  and  the  British  garrison  on  July  1,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  reinforcements  led  by  the  Earl  of  Moira.  After  the  defeat  by 
Marshal  Jean  Baptiste  Jourdan,  at  Fleurus,  June  26,  1794,  of  the 
allied  forces  commanded  by  the  Prince  of  Coburg,  there  was  a  re- 
assembling at  Halle,  a  march  toward  Mons,  which  was  evacuated  on 
July  3,  and  a  series  of  bloody  engagements  between  entrenchments 
in  the  forest  of  Soignies,  which  lay  between  the  French  and  Brussels. 
Finally,  the  prince  retreated  through  to  Brussels,  whose  inhabitants 
were  ordered  to  remain  in  their  houses,  with  closed  shutters,  until  the 
troops  had  passed  through.  On  July  9  that  city  was  evacuated. 

On  July  15,  General  Clairfait  was  defeated,  with  a  loss  of  six  thou- 
sand men,  at  Lou  vain.  Namur  was  evacuated  by  General  Beaulieu 
on  July  17.  The  victorious  French  army  moved  towards  Antwerp, 
which  surrendered  on  July  23.  The  discouraged  and  depleted  army 
of  the  allied  nations  withdrew  entirely  from  the  Netherlands,  which 
became  French  territorv. 

C   74   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

The  Whiskey  Rebellion. 

During  the  sessions  of  Congress  in  the  spring  of  1794,  taxes  wert 
imposed  upon  coal,  salt,  sugar,  coffee,  cheese,  snuff, 'spirits,  boots,  and 
shoes.  They  were  to  be  in  force  for  three  years.  While  in  New  Eng- 
land and  New  York  these  taxes  were  paid  with  remonstrance,  that 
on  spirits  excited  the  most  protest  from  the  time  of  the  first  revenue 
bill  in  1792.  In  western  Pennsylvania,  in  the  absence  of  currency 
and  the  scarcity  of  hard  money,  whiskey  was  issued  as  a  circulat- 
ing medium.  A  gallon  of  good  r3"e  whiskey  was  worth  a  shilling, 
and  accepted  in  payment  at  that  rate  in  Pittsburgh  and  through- 
out Fayette,  Washington,  Alleghany,  and  Westmoreland  counties. 
To  pay  upon  it  a  tax  of  seven  cents  a  gallon  was  disastrous  to  the 
pioneers  living  in  western  Pennsvlvania.  To  evade  the  payment,  ill- 
treat  revenue  collectors,  to  compel  those  who  had  paid,  not  only  to 
advertise  the  fact  in  the  "Pittsburgh  Gazette,"  but  to  submit  to 
destruction  of  their  barns,  houses,  or  grist-mills,  was  common.  To 
enter  a  still  upon  the  re\enue  collector's  records  was  the  harbinger 
for  a  visit  from  a  masked  mob,  who  brought  destruction  upon  the 
distillers.  To  these  maskers  the  name  "Tom  the  Tinker"  was  ap- 
plied. This  was  the  name  assumed  by  John  Holcroft,  a  leader  among 
the  opposers  of  the  tax.  It  soon  became  familiar  to  every  person  in 
the  western  counties,  and  was  dreaded  and  feared  Avhen  signed  to 
placards  on  trees  and  in  public  places,  or  hand-bills  scattered  through- 
out a  town  or  district. 

While  a  modification  of  the  law  compelling  all  those  accused  to  ap- 
pear before  the  district  federal  court  in  Philadelphia,  three  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  awav,  and  allowing  answers  to  be  made  in  state  courts 
was  under  discussion  in  Congress,  processes  for  seventy-five  distil- 
leries were  issued  on  May  31,  1794,  although  dated  May  13.  It  was 
not  until  July,  however,  that  the  marshal  went  west  to  serve  them. 
Sixtv-nine  had  been  safely  served  in  the  counties  of  Fayette,  Bedford, 
Alleghany,  Washington,  and  Westmoreland. 

As  he  approached  the  house  of  Mr.  Muller,  fourteen  miles  from 
Pittsburgh  on  the  road  to  Washington,  he  found  him  in  a  harvest- 
field  with  his  men,  reaping.  Mr.  Muller  accepted  the  writ  without 
any  comment,  and  the  marshal  was  about  to  leave  when  an  alarm 
was  given.  The  men  threw  down  their  scythes.  Some  followed  him, 

[   75   1 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  some  went  to  the  house  of  the  inspector  of  the  militia  brigade, 
where  the  Mingo  Creek  regiment  was  gathering  in  response  to  the 
call  of  Congress  for  eighty  thousand  militia,  shouting,  "The  federal 
sheriff  is  taking  men  away  to  Philadelj^hia  ;"  several  joined  them.  As 
thc}^  proceeded  to  the  house  of  the  revenue  inspector,  Mr.  Ne\ille,  the 
force  increased,  and  thirty-seven  excited  and  whiskey-filled  men  drew 
up  before  it  with  John  Holcroft  at  their  head.  Mr.  Neville  asked  what 
thev  wanted.  The}-  gave  him  an  evasive  reply  and  he  fired  tipon  them. 
The  men  returned  it,  and  a  band  of  negroes  which  had  been  posted 
in  a  house  nearby  shot  at  them.  The  mob  then  scattered,  leaving  six 
men  wounded  and  one  dead  on  the  field. 

The  news  of  the  affray  was  widely  spread,  and  towards  the  close  of 
the  day  five  hundred  men,  angrv  and  drunken,  assembled  at  Couche's 
Fort,  some  miles  from  Mr.  Neville's  house.  They  were  addressed  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  who  knew  them  well,  and  implored  them  not  to 
commit  violence,  but  to  be  orderl}-,  and  return  to  their  homes.  His 
words  fell  upon  idle  ears.  With  a  Revolutionary  veteran  as  leader, 
they  went  to  the  inspector's  house,  to  find  there  a  major  and  eleven 
soldiers  from  Fort  Pitt.  One  of  the  men  approached  the  house  with 
a  flag  of  truce  and  demanded  the  papers  of  the  inspector.  He  was 
answered  that  he  was  gone.  He  then  asked  that  six  men  be  allowed 
to  search  for  papers,  but  was  refused.  With  a  ^\"arning  for  all  women 
to  leave  the  house,  fire  was  opened  by  the  rioters.  There  was  a  shout 
from  the  house,  and  the  commander  of  the  mob,  stepping  from  behind 
a  tree,  told  his  men  to  cease  firing.  Almost  immediately  he  fell  upon 
his  face,  dead.  He  was  carried  away  by  some  of  the  men,  and  others 
stormed  the  btiildings  and  set  fire  to  the  barn.  The  fire  spread  till  the 
house  and  out-buildings  were  also  burned.  The  troops,  almost  suffocated 
by  the  smoke,  surrendered.  Before  then  the  marshal  had  been  taken, 
and  the  prisoners  were  so  carelessly  guarded  that  they  all  escaped. 

With  an  agreement  to  meet  at  Mingo  Creek  on  July  23,  the  rioters 
dispersed.  On  that  day  a  large  number  of  farmers  and  distillers  met 
in  the  meeting-house.  They  discussed  the  question  of  approving  the 
riot.  Without  any  decision,  although  in  favour  of  resistance  to  federal 
authority,  it  was  agreed  to  hold  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  western 
Pennsylvania  at  Parkinson's  Ferry  on  August  14. 

David  Bradford,  the  leader  of  the  meeting  at  Bradford  Creek,  dis- 
contented, a  true  demagogue,  robbed  the  United  States  mail  to  secure 

C    76   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

incriminating  letters,  and  called  out  the  militia  of  the  four  counties  to 
engage  in  "an  expedition  in  which  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of 
displaying  your  military  talents  and  of  rendering  service  to  your  coun- 
try." The  place  appointed  for  the  men  to  meet  was  Braddock's  Field. 
While  the  militia  were  gathering,  Pittsburgh,  called  by  the  rioters 
Sodom,  was  warned  that  it  would  be  destroyed  unless  four  men 
obnoxious  to  them  ^\'ere  ordered  from  the  to\\n.  The  people  Avere  so 
thoroughly  terrified  that  they  complied  with  the  demand.  It  was  an 
army  of  o\er  six  thousand  men  that  marched  through  Pittsburgh  and 
crossed  the  Monongahela. 

The  "Whiskey  Boys,"  as  they  were  called,  set  at  defiance  the  au- 
thority of  the  state  and  nation,  and  drove  the  government  officials 
beyond  the  mountains.  Even  the  Democratic  societies,  the  representa- 
ti\es  of  extreme  license,  while  they  regarded  the  law  as  oppressive 
and  hostile  to  liberty,  and  "  a  nursery  of  vice  and  sycophancy,"  con- 
demned the  conduct  of  the  insurgents.  With  great  and  admirable  sa- 
gacity Washington,  securing  froma  judge  of  the  federal  court  a  formal 
notification  that  in  Alleghany  and  Washington  counties  laws  of  the 
United  States  had  been  defied,  issued  a  proclamation  commanding  the 
discontented  to  cease  their  resistance,  and  ordered  out  twelve  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  militia,  to  be  ready  to  march  on  September  1. 
The  course  of  Governor  Mifflin  was  vacillating  and  timid.  When 
urged  to  call  out  the  state  troops  and  command  them  himself,  he  hes- 
itated. He  thought  it  might  make  matters  worse.  To  send  a  sharp  let- 
ter seemed  to  him  all  that  should  be  done.  After  the  President's  proc- 
lamation the  governor  acted.  He  summoned  the  legislature,  announced 
that  he  would  obey  the  requisition  for  troops,  and  named  the  chief  jus- 
tice and  General  William  Irvine  as  commissioners  to  treat  with  the 
Whiskey  Boys.  Three  more  were  added  by  Washington,  and  soon 
afterward  they  went  to  Pittsburgh. 

In  the  meantime,  the  convention  of  delegates  met  at  Parkinson's 
Ferry  on  August  14.  More  than  two  hundred  were  present  from  Vir- 
ginia, the  portion  of  Bedford  County  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and 
every  township  in  Westmoreland,  Alleghany,  and  Fayette  counties. 
As  no  building  was  large  enough,  they  met  under  the  shelter  of  a 
wooded  hill.  Around  them  were  farmers  and  distillers,  anxious  to 
know  what  their  decision  would  be.  All  were  armed  and  watchful. 
Upon  a  tall  libertv  pole  was  a  standard,  with  the  legend,  "Liberty 
C   77  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  no  excise."  The  meeting  was  opened  by  speeches  that  were  in- 
flammatorv,  and  by  the  passage  of  resolutions  strongly  opposing  any 
tax  upon  spirits,  especially  whiskey.  In  the  discussion  of  one  of  three 
resolutions,  Albert  Gallatin,  then  a  young  man,  spoke  forcibly  and 
calmly  for  la\y  and  order.  As  the  discussion  was  in  progress,  it  was 
announced  that  the  commissioners  were  in  Pittsburgh.  A  committee  of 
three  from  each  county  was  chosen  to  meet  them.  A  further  commit- 
tee of  sixty  was  then  appointed  with  power  to  call  a  new  meeting. 

The  commissioners  met  the  committee  in  Pittsburgh,  and  discussed 
calmly  the  situation.  The  demands  made  by  the  goyernment  were 
reasonable,  and  finally  the  committee  assented  to  them.  Their  course 
was  the  signal  for  a  new  outburst  of  wrath,  and  they  were  seyerely 
censured.  Tom  the  Tinker,  in  the  "Pittsburgh  Gazette,"  said  that 
they  had  been  bribed.  "They  had  sold  the  liberty  of  their  country  for 
federal  gold." 

While  the  ^yestern  counties  were  still  in  frenzied  agitation,  the  troops 
for  the  expedition  against  the  insurgents  were  being  enlisted  and 
drafted.  In  many  places  the  Whiskey  Boys  had  their  emissaries, 
who  by  exaggeration  and  malicious  stories  hindered  the  work  of  the 
enrolling  officers.  It  was  a  brilliant  scene  when  the  troops  began  their 
march  toward  the  Monongahela.  The  President  himself  accompanied 
them  a  part  of  the  way.  Goyernor  Lee  was  at  the  head  of  the  Vir- 
ginia contingent,  Goyernor  Mifflin  of  the  Pennsyhania  men,  and  Goy- 
ernor Howell  commanded  the  Jersey  Blues.  The  little  army  marched 
slowly  through  a  yery  picturesque  countrj'.  The  commissioners  found 
that  the  assent  of  the  committee  had  not  bound  their  constituents,  as 
the  denunciation  of  them  showed. 

The  committee  of  sixty  met  on  August  28,  at  the  Red  Stone  Old 
Fort.  Dayid  Bradford  was  still  desirous  of  resisting  all  authority.  It 
was  a  yery  delicate  matter  to  obtain  an  expression  of  opinion  con- 
cerning the  act  of  the  committee  of  twehe  by  any  ordinary  method 
of  voting.  Finally,  Albert  Gallatin,  still  counselling  submission  to  law, 
wrote  upon  slips  of  paper  the  \\ords  ' '  Yea ' '  and  ' '  Nay . ' '  Each  of  the 
fifty-seyen  committee-men  present  was  to  drop  into  a  box  w'hicheyer 
word  he  chose  and  destroy  the  other.  When  the  yotes  were  counted 
there  were  thirty-four  yeas  and  twenty-three  nays.  After  appointing 
a  ne\^  committee  of  conference,  the  meeting  adjourned.  It  was  re- 
ported to  the  commissioners  that  large  sections  of  the  western  coun- 
C    78   J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

ties  were  on  the  point  of  open  outbreak.  A  vote  upon  the  question  of 
obeying  the  law  and  not  harassing  the  revenue  collectors  or  other 
officials  showed  that  no  excise  officer  could  enter  W^estmoreland 
County  in  safety.  From  W^ashington  and  Fayette  counties  no  report 
which  expressed  the  intention  of  the  people  could  be  obtained.  From 
Alleghany  there  was  no  report  at  all.  The  commission  had  failed  in 
its  purpose,  and  in  much  discouragement  returned  to  Philadelphia. 

Wiser  counsels  prevailed  among  the  people,  however,  and  gradually 
negotiations  allayed  the  excitement.  At  the  Parkinson's  Ferry  meeting 
in  October  an  attempt  was  made  at  conciliation.  David  Redick  and 
Nathan  Findlc}-,  a  strong  anti-Federalist,  were  chosen  to  make  repre- 
sentations to  Washington  and  the  leaders  of  the  army.  They  met 
him  at  Carlisle,  but  the  assurances  they  gave  were  thought  insuffi- 
cient to  ensure  order  and  obedience  to  law,  and  the  troops  marched 
forward.  They  sought  more  explicit  instructions  from  the  committee 
at  Pittsburgh.  x\nother  convention  was  held  at  Parkinson's  Ferry. 
Stronger  and  fuller  resolutions  desiring  the  termination  of  resistance 
were  passed,  with  which  the  envoys  went  back  to  the  army. 

As  the  troops  were  then  very  near  Parkinson's  Ferry,  thev  proceeded, 
and  when,  on  November  8,  they  reached  that  hamlet,  found  the  in- 
surrection was  quelled.  Suspected  men  were  seized  and  examined. 
For  some,  the  evidence  was  insufficient;  others  were  held  for  trial. 
The  two  afterwards  found  guilty  of  treason  were  pardoned  by  the 
President.  This  ended  an  outbreak  which  might  have  seriously  in- 
volved the  whole  nation.  The  supremacy  of  the  law  was  maintained,  ) 
the  national  government  sustained,  and  each  state  showed  that,  as  / 
a  constituent  part  of  the  nation,  it  would  comply  with  the  national 
demands. 


C   79  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Abraham  Skinner,  Jr.  ] 

New  York,  Sept',  i;"".  1794 

My  Dear  John 

A  FTER  a  considerable  intermission  I  have  once  more  ex- 
X\.  perienced  the  pleasure  of  reading  a  Letter  from  my 
friend.  I  had  reason  to  expe6l  a  line  from  him  at  an  earlier 
period,  but  what  I  have  just  read  is  sufficient  to  induce  a 
pardon  on  my  part.  Dear  John  it  is  not  difficult  for  me  to  for- 
give, particularly  upon  urgent  occasions.  You  were  prevented 
from  writing  before  by  one  of  the  best  engagements.  I  am 
happy  to  find  that  you  are  writing  Speeches  for  some  of  your 
little  friends.  It  must  be  improving  to  yourself,  and  doubtless 
gratifying  to  them.  You  mention  that  they  have  not  yet  stood 
the  Tryal  of  D'.  Smith's  Criticism,  but  I  rather  think  they 
will  stand  the  attack  however  powerful  it  may  be.  Your  ob- 
servations with  regard  to  good  writing  are  very  true  and  are\ 
worthy  of  being  put  in  practise.  I  am  well  assured  that  to  \ 
write  well,  a  man  ought  to  store  his  mind  plentifully  with  \ 
general  knowledge.  This  knowledge  should  also  be  methodi-    \ 
cally  arrang'd  and  properly  applied;  lest  fancy,  at  any  time,     1 
should  overpower  his  judgement  &  his  Sense  and  render  a     / 
man  ridiculous.  The  Sciences  have  a  delight  in  each  other's    / 
Company  and  when  they  all  center  in  the  same  person,  they 
mutually  assist  each  other.  But  this  is  rarely  the  case,  altho' 
it  proves  the  necessity  of  attempting  to  obtain  as  much  gen- 
eral knowledge  as  possible. 

I  have  written  very  little  since  I  left  College  and  have  reason 
to  regret  it  much.  I  wrote  some  last  winter,  but  have  paid  little 
attention  to  it  this  Summer,  I  intend  however  in  future  to  make 
it  my  particular  Study;  for  I  conceive  the  attaiment  of  good 
writing  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  human  advances. 
C  80  J 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

You  mention,  my  Hobart  that  you  are  engaged  in  writing 
the  Studies  of  the  J^  and  Sen^  Classes.  Your  time  will  not  be 
lost  or  misapplied,  for  they  are  in  my  opinion  most  valuable 
Collections.  I  have  lamented  much  that  I  ever  parted  with  one 
of  mine,  (altho  the  most  of  them  were  very  incorre6l  &  old). 
I  wish  I  had  as  good  Opportunities  of  Copying  them  as  your- 
self. I  should  be  willing  to  sacrifice  many  of  my  Study  hours 
and  all  my  time  for  pleasure  to  write  them.  I  have  now  in  faft 
much,  indeed  more  writing  than  I  could  wish  being  the  only 
Clerk  in  the  OflHce. 

You  ask  Dear  John,  if  I  read  on  any  other  Subje6t  than  Law. 
Since  I  have  been  in  Town,  I  have  turned  my  attention  to  it 
alone  &  intend  to  continue  to  do  it  for  some  time,  for  the  fol- 
lowing reasons.  First,  I  find  that  a  foundation  in  this  Study 
ought  particularly  to  be  laid  early  as  the  pra6lical  Observa- 
tions that  may  be  made  in  our  business  are  of  no  service  & 
cannot  be  properly  understood,  without  a  knowledge  of  the 
principles  &  nature  of  Law. 

gndiy  J  f^j-j(j  jj-  necessary  to  understand  a  little  (at  least)  of 
the  praftise  to  do  my  Papa's  business,  in  his  absence. 

grdiy  yj^g  sooner  I  obtain  this  knowledge,  of  the  more  ad- 
vantage will  it  be.  For  all  that  I  shall  afterwards  read  will  be 
better  understood,  by  a  digestion  of  these  principles  &  experi- 
ence in  their  pra6lise.  And  for  more  extensive  reading  in  Law 
I  can  take  time. 

These  are  my  reasons  for  attending  at  this  time  but  little  to 
other  Studies.  I  have  resolv'd  upon  this  since  I  came  to  New 
York,  for  before  I  read  no  law  for  a  long  time  &  in  fa6l  read 
nothing  to  much  advantage,  my  mind  was  disturbed  with  too 
many  pursuits.  But  I  wish  to  [^toni  oiiQ  habits  of  intense  Study 
&  see  the  advantage  of  \^toni  ouQ  I  have  few  acquaintances 
&  as  few  amusements  for  the  latter  consists  chiefly  in  meet- 

c  81 : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

ing  the  family  at  night  after  spending  the  day  at  the  Office. 
D^  Priestley  I  understand  intends  to  deliver  Leftures  upon 
Experimental  Philos' .  here  this  winter.  A  Subscription  is  open 
&  I  believe  I  shall  attend. 

I  saw  Terhune  here  the  other  day,  he  is  remains,  at  home 
disengaged.  Taylor  said  he  intended  to  commence  the  Study 
of  the  Law  in  the  fall  &  I  believe  is  going  to  the  Eastward 
only  for  pleasure,  his  obje6l  may  be  different.  His  brother 
was  with  him.  I  suppose  he  is  ambitious  for  the  honors  of  the 
World,  but  I  was  glad  to  see  him  at  Jam^.  He  thought  it  most 
probable,  he  should  not  be  at  Commencement.  N.  York  is 
noisy,  but  I  begin  to  be  habituated  to  it  &  I  have  a  tolerable 
good  Opportunity  for  Study.  The  Yellow  fever  I  believe  has 
carried  off  a  few,  but  the  Physicians  disown  it,  altho'  some 
imagine  many  to  be  down. 

It  is  an  alarms.  Circumstance  &  shows  us  the  necessity  of 
being  at  all  times  ready  to  meet  that  Judge  before  whom 
sinners  tremble.  I  was  shocked  at  the  death  of  Capt.  Litle  and 
cannot  but  observe  with  emotion  the  situation  of  mankind. 
To  die,  to  a  sinner  is  death  indeed,  but  to  a  good  man  a  happy 
hour.  To  lanch  at  once  into  Eternity  unprepared  is  to  me  a 
thought  of  the  deepest  concern.  Our  infancy  is  not  spent  here 
&  to  persist  in  sin  &  look  forward  to  everlasts.  torment  is 
then  a  most  alarms.  Subjeft.  The  instances  of  Wickedness  in 
this  City  are  astonishing,  but  God  is  merciful  to  suffer  the  per- 
pertrators  to  live.  Remember  the  great  obje6t  of  our  Exist- 
ence. Remember  me  to  Forsyth.  I  can  write  no  more  you  see. 

A.  S. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton. 


C    82    ] 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  JR. 

ANNOTATIONS 

Joseph  Priestley. 

Joseph  Priestley  was  the  son  of  a  cloth-draper,  and  born  at  Fieldhead, 
near  Leeds,  March  13,  1733.  The  state  of  his  health  did  not  allow  him 
to  go  regularly  to  school,  and  he  entered  upon  business.  But  when  his 
health  w  as  restored  he  took  a  course  at  Daventry  Academy.  It  was 
while  here  that  he  felt  himself  doubting  the  strict  Calvinistic  opinions 
in  which  he  had  been  trained,  and  even  the  doctrine  of  Christianity 
as  set  forth  in  the  creeds  and  theological  treatises. 

In  1755  he  became  minister  of  a  dissenting  congregation  at  Need- 
ham  Market  in  Suffolk.  It  was  while  here  that  he  avowed  his  theo- 
logical position  in  his  book,  ' '  The  Scripture  Doctrine  of  Remission, ' ' 
in  w  hich  he  rejected  the  Catholic  doctrine  that  the  death  of  the  Blessed 
Lord  is  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  He  allowed  the 
Bible  to  be  a  divine  revelation,  but  rejected  the  divinity  of  Our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  doctrines  of  the  Trinity  and  the  Atonement.  In 
1758  he  went  to  Nantwich.  In  1761  he  was  made  teacher  of  lan- 
guages and  belles-lettres  in  an  academy  at  Warrington.  Visiting  Lon- 
don, he  became  acquainted  with  Franklin,  and  took  an  intelligent 
interest  in  his  experiments,  which  he  popularized  in  a  "History  and 
Present  State  of  Electricity."  He  now  ga\e  himself  largely  to  scientific 
studies,  with  such  success  as  to  be  made  in  1766  a  fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society  and  a  doctor  of  laws  by  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  In 
1767  he  removed  to  Mill  Hill,  near  Leeds,  and  took  charge  of  a  dis- 
senting Chapel.  It  is  said  that  a  large  breuery  near  his  home  gave  him 
a  great  desire  for  chemical  research.  His  examination  of  the  theories 
concerning  gaseous  substances  led  to  his  discovery  of  Oxygen,  which 
revolutionized  chemical  theories.  He  made  an  exhausti\e  investiga- 
tion of  nitric  oxide,  nitrous  oxide,  sulphurous  acid,  carbolic  oxide, 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  ammonia  gases,  \^'ith  important  results. 

During  the  period  of  his  activity  as  a  chemist  he  attended  to  his  min- 
isterial work,  intermitting  it  for  a  short  time  in  1774,  when  he  accom- 
panied Lord  Shelburne  on  a  Continental  tour.  His  further  declaration 
of  his  religious  views  and  convictions,  in  1786,  by  a  "History  of  Early 
Opinions  concerning  Jesus  Christ,"  brought  him  again  into  contro- 
versy with  Dr.  Horsley  and  other  members  of  the  Church  of  England. 
He  drew  upon  himself  popular  disapproval  when  he  openly  favoured 
C   83   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

in  a  published  pamphlet,  in  answer  to  Edmund  Burke's  "Reflections 
on  the  French  Revolution,"  that  upheaval  of  the  ancient  order  in 
France. 

At  one  time  a  mob  broke  into  his  house,  destroying  his  most  valu- 
able books,  manuscripts,  and  scientific  apparatus.  Resigning  his  min- 
isteral  charge  in  1794,  he  sailed  for  the  United  States,  arriving  in 
New  York  in  June.  He  was  received  with  much  cordiality.  He  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  very  quietly,  settling  in  Northumberland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  on  February  6,  1804,  in  the 
seventy-first  year  of  his  age.  He  is  universally  allowed  to  have  been 
a  man  of  spotless  personal  character,  equable  temper,  and  absolutely 
eager  in  searching  out  and  attaining,  both  in  religion  and  science,  what 
he  held  to  be  ultimate  truth. 

John  Little. 

Captain  John  Little  was  a  large  owner  of  property  on  the  main  street, 
Princeton.  He  seems  to  have  been  an  estimable  man,  and  prominent  in 
the  affairs  of  the  town  and  the  Church. 

Upon  the  incorporation  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  as  an  institu- 
tion separate  from  the  college  in  1786,  he  was  made  a  trustee,  and 
served  until  his  death  on  September  6,  1794. 

John  Terhune. 

For  notice  see  page  26. 

Bennet  Taylor. 

For  notice  see  page  26. 


c  84 : 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia,  Sept'.   1 7'*'.   1 794. 

Dear  John, 

WHEN  I  wrote  to  you  last  I  had  not  a  doubt  but  that 
your  Diplomas  would  be  ready  by  the  time  I  then 
mentioned.  As  soon  as  M'.  Smith's  hand  was  so  well  that  he 
could  write,  I  urg'd  him  all  that  was  in  my  power  to  finish 
them  without  delay  which  he  assured  me  he  would  do;  but, 
as  he  had  left  the  gentlemen  with  whom  he  lived  in  the  city, 
he  went  to  his  family  in  the  country  about  ten  days  ago,  and 
I  have  not  heard  from  since.  I  would  have  answered  your 
letter  of  the  9  inst.  sooner,  had  I  not  been  in  expe6lation  daily 
of  either  receiving  the  Diplomas  or  hearing  from  him.  I  in- 
tended for  some  days  past  to  have  taken  a  ride  to  his  house, 
but  was  disappointed  in  getting  a  horse ;  and  after  this  it  will 
not  be  in  my  power  to  leave  the  store.  This  being  the  case  I 
am  at  a  loss  to  say  whither  you  can  depend  upon  M^  S.  fin- 
ishing them  or  not:  It  is  possible  they  may  be  done  by  this  time ; 
but  from  his  having  disappointed  me  so  often  already,  it  is 
equally  possible  they  are  not.  I  suppose  you  must  have  them 
the  beginning  of  next  week ;  and  as  there  is  little  time  to  spare, 
I  think  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  wait  any  longer  for  M^  S. 
if  you  can  get  them  written  at  Princeton.  Should  you  conclude 
to  get  them  done  there,  I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  by  the 
return  of  the  post,  and  I  will  endeavour  to  inform  M^S.  of 
it.  I  shall  wait  untill  I  hear  from  you  as  he  may  perhaps  send 
them  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two.  1  beg  that  you  will  not 
think  that  I  consider  anything  I  have  done  for  you  as  trouble- 
some: but  I  feel  concern 'd  least  you  should  be  put  to  any  in- 
convenience in  getting  the  Diplomas  written,  by  my  delay- 
ing so  long  in  writing  to  you. 

C  85  ] 


i  HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

/  The  Commissioners  who  were  sent  to  the  back  parts  of  this 
/State  to  treat  with  the  insurgents  having  return'd  without 
accomplishing  the  object  for  which  they  were  sent;  recourse 
Vjs  to  be  had  to  force.  It  is  the  only  expedient  which  is  left  to 
the  government  to  enforce  the  execution  of  the  Laws.  Every 
friend  to  the  peace  &  happiness  of  the  United  States,  must  la- 
ment that  it  is  become  necessary  for  one  part  of  the  citizens  to 
take  arms  against  another.  But  it  must  be  better  to  do  tliis  than 
to  permit  a  small  part  of  the  community  to  oppose  the  laws  of 
the  Union  under  the  pretence  of  their  being  greivances,  and 
which  the  other  parts  of  the  community,  who  must  be  equally 
afFe6ted  by  them,  submit  to. -The  criminality  of  their  condu6l 
is  so  apparent  that  there  is  but  one  opinion  on  the  subje6l 
in  every  part  of  the  U.  S.  if  we  except  a  few  individuals  in 
different  parts  who  would  be  gratified  at  the  destru6tion  of 
the  gov'.  Within  these  few  days  past  the  militia  have  turned 
chearfully.  Most  of  the  uniform  companies  are  going  volun- 
teers; and  the  three  troops  of  horse.  This  being  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  their  meeting  the  Gov^  at  the  place  where  has 
pitched  his  tent,  they  have  just  set  out  for  the  purpose.  It  is 
supposed  they  will  march  to  Carlisle  in  the  course  of  a  day 
or  two.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  that  M^  Smith  is  going. 
There  was  a  new  company  of  Infantry  formed  on  monday 
last,  in  which  a  great  number  of  young  quakers  have  engaged 
to  go.  They  are  mostly  genteel  people  who  are  in  it.  Their 
number  is  between  60  &  70;  and  their  cloathing  &c.  have 
been  prepared  with  so  much  expedition  that  they  will  be 
ready  to  march  tomorrow. 

I  hope  you  will  excuse  the  many  blunders  I  have  made,  as 

I  have  had  very  little  time.  The  arrangements  which  it  was 

necessary  to  make  in  M'.  Smith's  business  before  his  going 

away  has  kept  me  much  engaged  these  few  days  past,  and 

[   86  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

particularly  this  morning.  I  shall  expeft  to  hear  from  you  by 
the  next  post  after  you  receive  this ;  and  am  very  aflfeftionately, 

Dear  John, 

Yours, 

James  Robertson 

Superscription  : 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  September  i8"^.   1794. 

Dear  John, 

I  WROTE  to  you  two  days  ago,  and  expefted  an  answer 
by  this  days  mail;  but  I  suppose  that  you  have  either  not 
received  my  letter  in  time,  or  been  otherways  engaged.  I  have 
not  heard  from  James  Smith  since  I  wrote,  and  have  concluded 
that  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  depend  any  longer  upon  him 
for  writing  your  Diplomas.  If  you  have  not  engaged  any  per- 
son to  write  them  at  Princeton, and  could  wait  untill  the  middle 
of  next  week  I  could  get  them  written  here  by  a  person  who 
writes  a  tolerable  good  hand,  and  altho'  he  has  not,  I  beleive 
written  any  Diplomas,  yet  he  has  been  accustomed  to  write 
Deeds  and  other  writings  of  that  nature ;  some  of  which  I  have 
seen;  and  they  are  very  well  done.  If  this  will  suit  you,  it  will 
be  necessary  for  you  to  send  me  copies  of  the  Diplomas,  as  it 
is  very  uncertain,  when  I  could  get  the  others  from  Mr.  Smith. 
Since  writing  the  above  I  have  received  your  letter  of  yes- 
terday. It  is  an  hour  latter  than  the  usual  time  of  the  arriving 
of  the  mail,  which  made  me  conclude  that  you  had  not  writ- 
ten. I  observe  by  it  that  you  could  wait  till  some  future  time 
for  your  Diplomas.  But  if  what  I  mentioned  on  the  other  side 
would  suit  you  it  would  give  me  pleasure  to  do  it;  for  I  am 

:  87  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

certain  that  it  is  on  my  account  that  you  have  not  had  them 
long  ago;  as  I  ought  to  have  employed  some  other  person 
when  I  found  that  Mr.  Smith  once  disappointed  me.  He  writes 
so  much  better  than  any  person  I  am  acquainted  with,  made 
me  anxious  he  should  write  them  and  I  placed  more  depend- 
ance  upon  his  promises  than  they  were  deserving  of. 

The  three  troops  of  horse  from  this  city,  have  this  day 
march'd  for  the  westward;  and  the  infantry  are  to  follow 
sthem  to  morrow. 

The  readiness  with  which  the  militia  from  other  states,  and 
the  great  number  of  volunteers  from  Penn^;  have  turned  out, 
will  be  attended  with  good  effe6ts.  It  will  show  the  deluded 
people  of  the  western  counties  that  the  general  opinion  of  the 
people  is  decidedly  against  their  proceedings.  The  most  of 
them  are  grosly  ignorant,  and  easily  imposed  on  by  design- 
ing men  who  make  use  of  them  to  accomplish  their  criminal 
designs  ag*  the  peace  of  the  United  States.  It  is  the  general 
opinion  here,  that  their  leaders,  have  been  artfuU  enough  to 
keep  them  unacquainted  with  the  force  that  is  to  be  employed 
against  them.  They  have  been  led  to  beleive  that  the  militia 
had  refused  to  turn  out ;  and  that  if  through  the  exertions  of 
the  Executive,  they  should  turn  out,  instead  of  supporting  the 
government,  they  would  join  them  ( the  insurgents )  and  turn 
their  arms  against  it.  They  will  however  soon  be  convinced 
of  their  mistake;  and  it  is  to  be  wished  they  may  discover  it 
in  time  to  prevent  the  effusion  of  blood. 

I  suppose  you  have  seen  by  the  Newspapers  that  the  Demo- 
cratic Society  have  condecended  for  once  to  approve  of  the 
condu6t  of  the  President.  It  must  no  doubt  have  gratified  him 
very  much  to  have  his  condu6l  approved  by  such  a  respe61:- 
able  body ;  equally  distinguished  for  their  wisdom  and  their 
love  of  order.  Citizen  Israel  at  his  own  table  a  few  days  ago, 

:  88  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

very  humanely  wished,  that  every  person  who  went  back  to 
oppose  his  western  brethern,  might  have  their  heads  cut  off. 
For  this  he  would  have  been  confined,  had  not  some  of  his 
friends  become  his  bail. 

M''.'  Smith  desired  me  to  urge  you  to  come  here,  as  soon 
as  you  possibly  can.  Your  company  would  help  to  keep  up  her 
spirits  in  Mr.  S.  absences.  I  need  not  asure  you,  that  no  one 
wishes  more  for  your  company,  my  dear  John,  than  yours 

affeaiy 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription : 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

The  Whiskey  Rebellion. 
For  notice  see  page  75. 

Israel  Israel. 

Citizen  Israel  was  an  inn-keeper,  and  had  a  livery  stable  at  No.  89 
Chester  Street,  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Democratic  Society. 


:  89  ] 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

JOSEIPH  Warren,  a  son  of  Dr.  Moses  and  Anna  (Johnson)  Scott, 
was  born  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jerse_v,  in  1778.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1795.  He  pursued  a  course  in 
medicine  with  his  father,  but  decided  not  to  practise.  He  then  studied 
theology,  attaining  great  proficiency  in  Hebrew  and  Greek  as  well  as 
in  systematic  divinity,  but  never  proceeded  to  ordination.  Finally  he 
became  a  student  with  General  Freylinghuysen,  an  eminent  lawyer. 
He  was  admitted  as  an  attorney  in  1801,  as  a  counsellor  in  1804, 
and  as  a  serjeant-at-law  and  master  in  chancery  in  1816.  His  practice 
\vas  extensive,  and  he  was  an  effective  pleader.  His  contemporaries 
regarded  him  as  one  of  the  best  equipped  lawyers  in  the  state.  Many 
of  his  pleas  are  still  referred  to  as  combining  sound  law,  impassioned 
rhetoric,  and  real  eloquence.  He  retired  from  the  greater  part  of  his 
practice  in  1841.  His  last  appearance  in  court  was  in  his  eightieth 
year,  when  he  spoke  for  several  hours  with  his  old-time  force,  vigour, 
and  humour.  For  some  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey 
militia,  serving  as  lieutenant  and  captain.  In  1818  he  was  made  deputy 
adjutant-general  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  with  the  rank  of  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and  in  1829  became  colonel  of  the  Independent  Battalion, 
Middlesex  Brigade. 

While  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  he  never  sought  or  accepted  politi- 
cal office.  In  1824  he  was  presidential  elector  of  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  casting  his  vote  for  General  Andrew  Jackson.  In  1825  he  was 
admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  in  succession 
to  his  father.  In  1838  he  was  assistant  treasurer-general,  and  in  the 
same  year  made  treasurer-general,  serving  until  1871.  In  1840  he 
became  vice-president,  and  in  1844  president,  serving  until  his  death 
in  1871. 

Colonel  Scott  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
giving  largely  to  the  parish  in  New  Brunswick.  He  was  made  and 
ordained  elder  in  1822.  His  ancestral  home  at  New  Brunswick  was 
a  colonial  house,  where  he  dispensed  an  elegant  hospitality.  He  died 
on  April  27,  1871,  in  the  ninety-third  year  of  his  age. 

In  the  address  at  his  funeral  the  Rev.  H.  D.  L.  Jewett,  the  pastor 

of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  New  Brunswick,  said:  "He  was 

an  accomplished  scholar,  well  versed  in  the  Latin  classics,  and  accus- 

C   90  ] 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

tomed  to  correspond  w  ith  liis  friends  in  the  Latin  language,  even 
to  the  last  year  of  his  life.  A\'ith  the  Westminster  Catechism  in  Latin 
as  well  as  in  English  he  was  familiar ;  to  him  it  seemed  the  work  of 
logical  and  master  minds,  the  ablest  uninspired  work  ever  written. 
His  Latin  Bible  was  always  by  his  side,  his  daily  companion.  He  loved 
it;  in  my  pastoral  visits  with  him  it  was  almost  always  in  his  hand, 
and  ready  for  reading  or  reference. 

"He  was  a  fine  belles-lettres  scholar,  and  had  the  pen  of  a  ready 
writer.  He  was  well  versed  in  English  literature,  and  familiar  with  the 
old  poets. 

"We  stand  to-day  by  the  side  of  one  who  looked  upon  and  was 
familiar  with  the  forms  of  generals,  statesmen,  and  theologians,  men 
whose  names  are  sacred  to  America  and  the  world.  We  stand  bv  the 
coffin  of  one  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812 ;  of  one  who  stood  by  the 
bedside  of  the  dying  Hamilton  (that  brilliant  intellectual  star  in  the 
galaxy  of  patriots);  of  one  who  heard,  amongst  divine  men  great  in 
the  history  of  the  American  Church,  Witherspoon,  Samuel  Stanhope 
Smith,  John  M.  Mason,  Livingston,  and  Bishop  Hobart.  Not  a  few 
of  the  great  men  in  Church  and  State  were  his  warm  personal  friends. 
So  attached  to  him  was  John  M.  Mason,  that  'prince  of  preach- 
ers,' that,  when  shattered  in  health,  and  broken  in  intellect,  he  wan- 
dered away  from  home,  Mason  came  in  search  of  him  to  this  city,  and 
found  him  at  the  residence  of  Colonel  Scott."  [^Elmer's  Reminiscences, 

p.    4:11.'] 

The  Hon.  Hamilton  Fish,  president-general  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati,  said  of  him:  "Genial  and  bright  in  intellect,  fourscore 
and  ten  years  had  not,  when  I  last  met  him,  quenched  the  ardour  of 
his  warm  and  impulsive  nature ;  and  I  shall  ever  remember  Colonel 
Joseph  Warren  Scott  as  one  of  the  most  attractive  talkers  and  agree- 
able companions  whom  it  has  been  my  fortune  to  meet." 

Colonel  Scott  published,  in  1842,  "A  Letter  to  Judge  Nevins, 
Mr.  Lupp,  and  Mr.  Wood  of  New  Brunswick,  on  the  Constitutional 
Organization  of  the  Legislative  Council  of  New  Jersey,  October, 
1841." 


L  91  2 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  J 

Princeton  November  6"''  1794 

My  Dear  Friend 

I  Arrived  here  last  evening  from  Brunswic  and  found 
Forsyth's  patience,  in  waiting  forme,  almost  exhausted; 
but  when  hearing  the  reasons  of  my  delay  he  was  perfectly 
satisfied.  This  day  we  took  possession,  by  leave  of  Mr.  Fin- 
ley  of  the  room  in  which  Holloway  W.  Hunt  formerly  lived. 
The  room  to  be  sure  is  not  a  very  warm  one  for  the  winter, 
but  the  idea  of  your  coming  to  live  with  us  makes  me  much 
more  contented  &  satisfied  than  I  would  be  in  the  best  room 
in  college  without  you. 

We  have  both,  I  trust,  set  down  with  a  full  determination  to 
apply  diligently  to  our  studies,  and  by  our  condu6l  to  make 
ourselves  worthy  the  esteem  of  the  Faculty  &  more  particu- 
larly of  your's,  Worthy  Friend.  The  friendly  and  salutary  ad- 
vice, you  have,  and  I  doubt  not  will,  give  me,  I  pray  Heaven, 
may  not  be  thrown  away,  but  rather  that  I  employ  it  to  the 
good  of  myself  &  friends^Thanks  be  that  God,  who  knows 
our  hearts  &  sees  all  our  deeds;  that  I  have  been  so  happy  in 
gaining  for  myself  so  good,  so  amiable  &  so  generous  Friend, 
to  keep  my  erring  feet  in  proper  paths  to  lay  a  firm  and 
lasting  foundation  for  my  temporal  and  eternal  happiness.^ 
You  have  always  shewn  a  partiality  for  me,  and  I  know  not 
why;  even  this:  your  paying  a  regard  to  me  while  I  was  an 
entire  stranger  among  the  students  and  your  very  often  re- 
peated a6ls  of  friendship  towards  me;  these  independent  of 
your  real  merit  of  which  then  I  had  but  a  slight  knowledge 
even  these  could  not  fail  to  enkindle  in  me  the  liveliest  sparks 
of  true  &  genuine  esteem :  But  why  should  I  tell  you  that 
I  feel  an  atachment  for  vou  beyond  what  I  can  express.^ 
I  92  ] 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

Sure  I  have  told  that  I  esteem  you  my  best,  my  worthiest 
friend ! 

I  shall  expedl  your  Dear  Friend  in  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks 
at  farthest,  the  sooner  you  come,  the  sooner  will  you  give 
satisfadlion  and  pleasure  to  Forsyth  &  myself. 

I  hoped  when  I  arrived  from  Philadelphia  here  to  have  been 
happy  in  acquainting  you  of  your  Mother's  good  health  & 
your  friends,  but  when  I  came  you  had  gone  to  Philadelphia. 

Praying  that  you  may,  as  no  doubt  you  will,  receive  the 
reward  of  your  excelling  merit  in  this  world;  &  after  this 
transitory  existence  is  no  more,  that  you  may  be  received 
into  the  Paradise  above,  to  inherit  that  Crown  of  glory  pre- 
pared for  all  who  believe  before  the  foundation  of  the  world 
I  subscribe  myself 

Your  sincere  &  affectionate  Friend 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

N  B.  Forsyth  last  night  received  your  letter,  but  entreaties 
on  my  part  could  prevail  with  him  to  read  it  to  me. 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  Henry  Hobart,  79  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia. 


ANNOTATIONS 

Robert  Marshall  Forsyth. 

Robert  M.,  a  son  of  Major  Forsyth,  marshal  of  Georgia,  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1796.  He  was  then  made 
a  tutor  in  connection  with  Mr.  Hobart.  The  friendship  between  these 
young  men  had  been  very  close  since  the  fall  of  1794.  In  a  letter  to  his 
friend,  Mr.  Skinner,  on  August  25,  1794,  Mr.  Hobart  says  :  "  I  wish 
you  were  here,  particularly  to  know  a  sweet  boy,  for  whom  I  indeed 
feel  a  great  deal  of  affection.  His  name  is  Forsyth.  His  father  was 
marshal  for  Georgia  and  was  shot  dead  while  in  the  execution  of  his 
office,  by  one  Beverly  Allen.  .  .  . 

C   93   J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

"He  is  about  fourteen.  Poor  fellow!  His  sensibilit\-  is  ver\-  great." 
[Dr.  McF/cA-or's  Early  Years,  p.  60.] 

Returning  to  his  home  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  in  1797,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Mr.  John  G.  Noel.  He  died  on  July 
26,  1797,  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age. 

An  obituary  from  the  pen  of  his  sorrowing  friend  appeared  in  the 
"New  York  Minerva,"  and  is  given  by  Dr.  McVickar  on  page  74 
of  the  "Early  Years." 

Died,  —  On  the  26th  July,  at  Savannah,  in  the  18th  year  of  his  age, 
Mr.  Robert  M.  Forsyth,  eldest  son  of  the  late  Major  Forsyth,  marshal 
of  the  State  of  Georgia. 

In  this  amiable  young  man  were  centered,  in  an  eminent  degree, 
those  talents  and  virtues  that  excite  respect  and  affection.  A  genius 
aspiring,  correct,  and  capacious,  was  united  w  ith  a  heart,  feeling, 
affectionate,  and  benevolent. 

Deprived,  when  only  fourteen,  by  a  particular  act  of  Providence,  of 
a  beloved  father,  he  rose  to  the  tr3'ing  duties  of  his  situation,  and 
his  most  ardent  wish  was  to  pour  consolation  into  the  bosom  of  a 
\\idowed  parent,  and  to  watch  with  paternal  solicitude  over  a  young 
and  only  brother.  Under  the  influence  of  these  motives,  he  left  home 
soon  after  the  decease  of  his  father,  and  commenced  his  studies  at  the 
college  at  Princeton.  Here  his  youthful  mind,  opening  with  delight 
to  instruction,  comprehended  even  the  highest  and  most  abstruse  prin- 
ciples of  science  with  unusual  ease  and  accuracy.  His  talent  for  an 
eloquence  that  at  once  roused  and  melted  the  heart,  was  displayed 
on  many  public  exhibitions  at  the  college ;  but  the  most  lively  tribute 
was  paid  to  its  excellence  bv  the  tears  and  sympathy  of  a  numerous 
audience,  on  his  pronouncing  the  valedictory  oration  at  the  last  Com- 
mencement. 

Noble  and  generous  in  his  sentiments,  ardent  and  faithful  in  his  at- 
tachments, manly  and  graceful  in  his  deportment,  with  a  coimtenance 
that,  speaking  the  energies  of  his  soul,  beamed  \\ith  intelligence  and 
feeling,  he  was  admired  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  soul 
was  exalted  by  the  exercises  and  hopes  of  religion.  He  embraced  the 
glorious  truths  of  the  Gospel  with  a  lively  and  rational  faith,  and  made 
them  his  trust  and  his  jov. 

Thus,  in  the  prospect  of  discharging  the  duties  of  life  with  zeal  and 

C   94   ^ 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

credit,  and  becoming  an  ornament  to  society,  he  Mas  torn  by  an  un- 
timely death  from  the  bosom  of  friendship.  That  Being  who  placed 
him  in  this  state  of  trial,  has  in  infinite  wisdom  closed  his  short  pil- 
grimage and  received  him  to  a  rest  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

J.H.H. 

Several  of  Mr.  Forsyth's  letters  and  some  particulars  concerning 
his  death  will  be  found  in  Dr.  McVickar's  "Early  Years."  {^See 
pp.  61-74.] 

Among  these  letters  the  following  two  are  here  given  as  showing 
Hobart's  deep  affection  for  his  friend : 

Princeton,  August  i8th,  1797. 

My  dear  Sister  has  no  doubt  seen  from  the  paper,  that  her  brother  is 
called  to  another  trial.  He  has  again  lost  the  object  of  a  sincere  and'^ 
ardent  affection.  It  seems  as  if  I  love  with  tenderness  only  to  be  made/ 
miserable  by  the  loss  of  those  I  love.  But  my  idols  are  taken  from  me. 
I  am  taught  that  this  is  not  my  home — that  here  are  not  my  joys.j 
O,  if  you  knew  what  tenderness  and  fidelity  I  have  loved  and  been! 
loved,  however  enthusiastic  my  language  might  be,  3'ou  would  judgoi 
it  to  be  sincere.  I  have  received  from  those  here,  who  knew  my  affec- 
tion for  Forsvth,  every  attention  and  kindness.  If  it  should  please 
Pro\idence  to  give  me  resignation  to  his  will,  and  to  save  me  from 
depression  of  spirits,  I  feel  inclined  with  greater  zeal  than  ever  to  per- 
form the  duties  of  life,  and  while  I  am  mindful  of  the  uncertainty 
of  its  rational  pleasures,  to  receive  and  enjoy  them  w  ith  humble  thank- 
fulness. Happy  indeed  should  I  be,  under  every  loss  however  severe, 
that  I  have  still  affectionate  relations  to  whom  I  owe  so  much. 

Your  afflicted  brother, 

J.   H.   HoBART. 

A  sympathetic  response  was  received  from  his  sister : 

Frankford  Hill  August  2znd  1797 

You  judge  well,  my  dear  brother,  in  assuring  yourself  of  the  entire 
sympathy  of  my  heart  in  j'our  present  afflictive  trial.  I  am  sensible  that 
the  participation  of  grief,  though  soothing  to  the  soul,  avails  little  to 
lighten  the  weight  of  the  blow.  I  need  not  present  to  you  those  motives 
of  consolation  which  your  own  well-grounded  piety  will  suggest,  nor 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

will  it  lessen  the  pangs  of  a  heart  like  yours,  to  point  out  the  grief 
which  the  unhappy  mother  of  your  deceased  friend  must  experience ; 
the  first,  when  the  burst  of  sorrow  has  subsided,  w  ill  bring  the  con- 
solation it  never  fails  to  impart,  and  the  other  consideration  will  be, 
a  spring  of  exertion  to  your  own  soul,  to  enable  you  to  offer  a  supjiort 
and  comfort  to  hers.  And  I  would  entreat  you,  for  the  sake  of  your 
own  dear  parent,  and  those  friends  w  ho  tenderly  love  you,  not  to  yield 
to  that  depression  of  spirits  of  which  your  speak  ;  exert  everv  faculty 
of  your  soul  against  that  cruel  langour  into  w  hich  it  will  sink  you  — 
that  death  of  usefulness  and  active  virtue.  Alas:  even  in  its  happiest 
state,  how  many  trials  does  this  probationary  being  present  to  us, 
which  nothing  but  an  early  acquired  fortitude,  the  result  of  a  rational 
and  well  grounded  hope  of  a  better  life,  can  enable  us  to  support.  Let 
this,  my  dear  brother,  while  it  teaches  you  resignation,  temper  the 
fervour  and  ardency  of  those  affections  which,  however  amiable  in 
themselves,  will  embitter  too  much  your  passing  days,  unless  calmed 
by  the  full,  persuasion  that  they  extend  beyond  the  grave.  They  were 
given  us  by  the  eternal  Author  of  our  being,  as  sources  of  enjoyment 
and  not  misery,  while  we  look  for  their  full  fruition  only  in  a  more 
exalted  state  of  existance. 

Ever  your  sympathising  sister. 

Mr.  Hobart  received  from  the  mother  of  his  friend  two  letters  full 
of  affectionate  thanks. 

The  name  of  Forsyth  is  best  known  in  the  annals  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  fame  which  his  younger  brother  John  acquired.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1799.  He  became  a  law- 
yer, and  was  successively  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States,  Rep- 
resentative in  Congress,  and  United  States  Senator.  He  was  made 
Minister  to  Spain,  and  negotiated  the  treaty  for  the  cession  of  Florida 
to  the  United  States.  Upon  his  return  in  1823,  he  was  again  in  Con- 
gress, both  as  Representative  and  Senator.  He  served  from  1827  to 
1829  as  governor  of  the  State,  and  was  United  States  Senator  from 
1829  to  1834,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of  Secretarj-  of  State  in 
the  Cabinet  of  General  Jackson,  and  was  continued  b\-  President  Van 
Buren  to  the  close  of  his  administration.  He  died  in  Washington  on 
October  21,  1841. 

C   96   D 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

Robert  Fin  ley. 

Robert  Finle}'  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1 787. 
He  served  as  tutor  in  that  college  from  1793  to  1795.  He  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  a  church  at  Basking  Ridge,  New  Jersey,  and  became 
widely  known  as  a  scholar  and  preacher.  In  1816  he  was  elected  to 
the  presidency  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  at  Athens.  It  had  been 
chartered  by  the  state  in  1784,  but  had  not  gone  into  active  opera- 
tion until  1801  ;  it  was  then  known  as  Franklin  College.  Much  w  as 
expected  from  his  incumbency  in  strengthening  and  extending  the 
institution,  but  he  died  suddenly  in  1817. 

Dr.  Finley  was  a  trustee  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  from  1807  to 
1817.  He,  with  Ezra  B.  Caldwell  of  Washington,  was  the  founder 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  whose  object  was  to  plant  col- 
onies on  the  west  coast  of  Africa,  the  inhabitants  of  which  should 
be  the  negroes  from  the  United  States,  particularly  the  slaves  in  the 
Southern  States.  It  was  organized  in  Washington  on  December  21, 
1816.  Men  prominent  in  ecclesiastical,  political,  and  social  life  be- 
came members,  and  it  exercised  a  very  large  influence  until  the 
Civil  War.  It  was  universally  hailed  as  the  only  sensible  solution  of 
the  sla\erv  question.  Among  the  early  members  were  Bishop  Meade 
of  Virginia,  Judge  Bushrod  Washington,  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  the 
Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  the  Hon.  John  Randolph,  and  the  Hon.  Fran- 
cis Scott  Kev.  The  society  is  still  in  existence,  and  does  a  restricted 
but  useful  work. 

HoUoway  Whitefield  Hunt. 

Holloway  Whitefield  Hunt  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  Ne\v 

Jersey  in  1794. 

He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1792. 
On  June  17,  1795,  he  was  ordained  and  setded  over  the  churches  of 
Newton  and  Harwinton,  New  Jersey.  In  1804  he  took  charge  of  the 
united  churches  of  Kingwood,  Bethlehem,  and  Alexandria,  Hunter- 
don County,  New  Jersey.  He  died  in  Hunterdon  County,  New  Jer- 
sey, in  1858. 


C  97  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  ] 

Nassau  Hall,  Princeton.  November  8th  94 

My  Dear  Hobart 

LAST  evening  Forsyth  received  a  letter  from  you  and  I  was 
^  m  Lich  surprised  to  hear  that  you  knew  not  of  my  arri- 
val in  this  place  or  had  not  received  my  letter.  I  expe61ed  last 
night  by  all  means  to  have  received  a  line  from  you,  and  you 
well  know  that  it  would  have  given  me  very  great  pleasure. 
I  have  just  written  to  Terhune  acquainting  him  that  you  & 
Jacob  Burnet  are  coming  to  spend  the  winter  at  Princeton. 
We  shall  also  be  happy  at  seeing  you  so,  meeting  your  old 
friends.  My  Good  friend  how  shall  I  tell  you  that  the  black 
cloud  of  enmity  is  again  gathering;  fain  would  I  wish  them 
dispelled,  fain  would  I  wish  that  they  who  are  again  our  slan- 
deering  enemies  would  recieve  some  friendly,  some  generous 
sentions.  But  My  Dear  Friend  I  fear  they  are  not  capable  of 
tender  feelings.  Malicious  envy  punisheth  herself  says  Solo- 
mon. They  are  not  satisfied  in  slandeing  and  back-biting  us, 
they  talk  of  each  other  in  terms  very  disrespe61:ful,  and  they 
mortify  themselves  by  not  having  a  subje6l  on  which  tiiey 
can  with  justice  vent  their  rage.  They  have  now  a  new  subjeft 
on  which  they  may  display  towards  each  other  their  slandeing 
talents,  our  taking  this  room,  what  will  be  the  next  I  know 
not ;  I  only  know  that  I  shall  be  extremely  care — in  what  I  say 
or  do  for  the  future;  this  method  appears  to  be  the  best  to  me, 
to  be  reserved  in  my  a6lions,  and  previously  to  consider 
whether  what  I  am  going  to  do  can  possibly  be  offensive. 

Forsyth  &  I  live  very  agreably  now  when  you  come  we 
shall  be  happy,  to  both  of  us  you  are  a  safe  resort  when  ad- 
vice is  required:  to  both  of  us  you  have  yourself  willing  to 
assist  us  whenever  is  in  your  power. 

c  98 : 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

My  Dear  Friend  your  presence  I  very  much  wish  for  here; 
Mr.  Caldwell  has  returned  and  expresses  a  great  wish  to  see 
you,  he  by  this  send  his  respedls  to  you  Come  Dear  Friend, 
your  friends  are  almost  impatiently  expecting  you. 

Write  to  me  if  you  do  not  come  quickly. 

Adieu  My  Dear  Friend 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

I  should  be  ashamed  to  let  such  a  letter  be  seen  there  I  request 
you  only  to  read  it. 

Superscription : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  No.  79  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia 


ANNOTATIONS 

Robert  Marshall  Forsyth. 
For  notice  see  page  93. 

Joseph  Caldivell. 

Joseph  Cald^\•ell  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 
1791,  with  the  highest  honours.  He  served  as  tutor  from  1795  to 
1796.  He  became  professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy 
in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  Battle  Hill,  in  1797.  He  was 
chosen  president  in  1804.  He  died  on  January  27,  1835. 

Judge  Batde,  in  his  history  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
page  411,  says  :  "His  death  brought  grief  to  the  officers  and  alumni  of 
the  University,  and  to  the  friends  of  education  and  enlightened  progress 
throughout  the  land.  He  had  stood  by  the  cradle  of  the  University, 
had  worked  for  it  through  its  infancy  to  the  strong  manhood  ;  had  been 
the  most  potent  factor  in  placing  it  on  the  highest  table-land  of  the 
Southern  insdtutions.  He  had  lived  to  see  its  pupils  in  all  positions  of 
usefulness  and  honor  throughout  our  Southland,  and  he  had  their  pro- 
found admiration.  He  had  won  the  position  of  educational  headship  in 
our  State.  He  was  the  recognized  authority  on  matters  connected  with 
mathematical  and  astronomical  questions. 

"Dr.  Caldwell  was  a  man  brave  and  strong,  of  tireless  energy,  a 

i99:\ 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

scholar  vet  a  man  of  action,  stern  in  discipline  yet  of  kindlv  heart,  a 
true  Christian,  firm  in  his  Presbyterian  convictions,  but  never  intoler- 
ant towards  others,  a  preacher  fervent  and  forcible,  a  teacher  patient 
and  inspiring." 


[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  ] 

Nassau  Hall,  Princeton  November  15  th  94 

My  Dear  Friend 

YOURS  of  the  10th  Inst.  I  received  on  ttiesday,  and  re- 
ceived more  satisfaction  than  I  can  express  to  you,  in  the 
perusal  of  it.  Forsyth  also  received  one  last  evening,  and  read 
to  me  a  clause  from  it,  which  he  said  was  addressed  to  both 
of  us.  Though  this  intimate  correspondence  affords  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure,  yet  your  immediate  presence  would  give 
me  more  than  I  can  possibly  expeft  from  an  epistolary  cor- 
respondence. Your  advice,  my  Dear  Friend,  I  assure  you  is 
always  acceptable,  because  I  know  it  is  always  good;  yet  I 
cannot  divine  why  you  are  so  urgent  with  us  about  keeping 
the  door  shut,  while  on  other  things  you  are  almost  silent.  I 
am  apprehensive  you  think  we  have  a  great  many  intruders, 
and  in  this  I  wish  to  undecieve  you,  (because  I  know  that 
everything  which  is  proper  and  which  we  do  right  gives  you 
pleasure)  At  first  the  students  came  in  great  nuinbers,  but 
our  refusing  admittance  to  so  many  daily,  occasioned  a  com- 
plaint against  us,  but  we  persisted  in  what  you  had  taught  us, 
and  what  we  thought  of  ourselves,  was  right;  and  by  so  doing 
freed  ourselves  from  a  great  many  visitors  that  we  did  not 
want.  The  conduft  that  (I  mentioned  in  my  last)  I  meant  to 
pursue,  towards  the  college  in  general  and  to  my  fellow- 
whigs  in  particular  ( provided  it  met  with  your  approbation )  I 
mean  still  pursue,  untill  I  hear  otherwise  from  you. 
[  100  ] 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

The  return  of  Mr.  Smith  I  wait  with  impatience;  I  hope  it 
will  not  be  more  than  three  or  four  days,  and  that  you  will 
be  here  in  a  week  at  farthest. 

It  is  hardly  fair  to  tell  tales;  but  to  day  a  circumstance  took 
place  which  I  am  sure  will  make  you  smile;  a  composition 
was  read  by  Mr.  Parrot  defining  the  exa6l  difference  between 
instinft  and  reason,  a  subjeft  to  which  he  of  all  others  I  should 
suppose,  is  least  competent,  after  reading  the  introduction  to 
it,  he  said  it  was  too  long  and  he  would  not  read  it. 

I  must  also  complain  a  little  on  Robert  about  copying  of  old 
minutes;  he  has  not  written  a  word  untill  this  afternoon,  but 
for  the  future  I  hope  he  will  do  better,  you  must  not  lash  him 
too  severely,  I  believe  I  am  almost  as  much  in  fault  as  he  is, 
for  not  telling  him  more  frequently. 

My  fingers  are  so  cold  that  I  can  hardly  write  any  more 
I  remain  and  wish  ever  to  remain 

your  sincere  and  affe6tionate  Friend 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

N  B.  I  shall  expe6l  a  letter  very  shortly,  and  a  long  one  too. 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  Henry  Hobart,  No.  79  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia 

ANNOTATIONS 

Joseph  Parrot. 

Joseph  Parrot,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1795,  College  of  New  Jersey. 

Robert  Smith. 

The  allusion  is  to  Robert  Smith,  the  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Hobart. 
He  was  then  in  western  Pennsylvania  with  the  First  City  Troop  of 
Philadelphia,  in  which  he  was  an  officer.  This  was  part  of  the  force 
sent  to  quell  the  Whiskey  Insurrection.  His  absence  made  it  neces- 
sary for  Mr.  Hobart  to  remain  in  Philadelphia.  [McFicAw's  Early 
Years,  p.  94.] 

I    101    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  ] 

Nassau  Hall  Princeton  November  17 

My  Dear  Friend 

WHAT  melancholy  tidings  does  this  bear?  It  is  the  death 
of  our  Good  &  worthy  president. 
On  Saturday  evening  in  his  chair,  this  good  old  met,  the 
common  enemy  of  man,  with  joy  and  cheerfulness.  And  why 
should  he  not?  It  would  would  set  a  final  period  to  trouble  and 
suffering,  and  land  him  in  that  haven  of  eternal  peace,  which 
is  the  reward  of  his  labors,  and  his  fidelity  to  his  Master's 
trust.  Full  of  days  and  full  of  honors,  this  venerable  sage  left 
us  to  deplore  his  loss  as  a  father  and  prote6lor,  but  he  has  also 
left  us  an  example,  truly  worthy  to  be  imitated. 

To  morrow  his  body  is  to  be  committed  to  the  silent  grave. 
Doctor  Smith  I  believe  is  to  pronounce  his  funeral  sermon,  no 
doubt  it  will  be  a  moving  and  a  feeling  discourse 

My  Dear  Friend,  I  must  really  ask  you  why  you  negle6l  to 
write  to  me ;  you  know  nothing  gives  me  more  pleasure ;  when 
I  cannot  see  you,  and  why  then  voluntarily  rob  me  of  so  much 
happiness. 
This  is  but  a  short  letter,  but  it  is  almost  prayer  time  and 
therefore  I  have  not  time  to  continue  it 

I  remain  My  Dear  Hobart 

your  Friend,  &  to  continue  so 

Joseph  Warren  Scott. 

Superscription : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  No.  79  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia 
Single 

Endorsement  : 

M'?  Joseph  W.  Scott,  Princeton,  Nov'  17'.''  1794 

C  102  J 


JOSEPH  ^^^\RREN  SCOTT 

ANNOTATIONS 

John  Wither spoo7i. 

John,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  James  and  Elizabeth  (Welsh)  Witherspoon, 
was  born  in  Yester  Parish,  Scotland,  on  February  5,  1722.  Upon  his 
mother's  side,  he  was  linealh'  descended  from  John  Knox,  the  re- 
former. He  was  prepared  for  college,  and  studied  at  the  University  of 
Edinburgh  when  its  faculty  Avas  composed  of  men  of  great  learning 
and  brilliance  ;  among  them  were  Dr.  Hugh  Blair,  Dr.  John  Erskine, 
Dr.  John  Henry,  Professor  Alexander  Carlyle,  and  Dr.  William  Rob- 
ertson. He  early  displayed  a  great  aptitude  for  a  practical  knowledge 
of  theology,  and  commenced  to  Avrite  upon  the  points  then  in  contro- 
versy among  the  Scottish  divines.  In  1744  he  was  ordained  for  the 
parish  of  Beith,  where  he  remained  thirteen  years.  With  all  his  learn- 
ing he  was  a  true  minister  to  the  poor,  needy,  and  sick.  His  parish- 
ioners found  in  him  a  wise  counsellor  and  a  sympathizing  friend.  By 
his  contributions  to  the  theological  literature  of  the  day,  and  especially 
against  the  party  known  as  "the  moderates,"  he  added  to  his  repu- 
tation. In  1757  he  became  minister  of  the  important  town  of  Paisley. 
His  ability  ^yas  recognized  in  1764  by  the  University  of  Aberdeen, 
\vhich  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity. 

Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Samuel  Finley,  the  fourth  president  of  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1766,  Dr.  Witherspoon  was  elected  to  the 
vacancy.  The  urgency  of  his  friends  and  parishioners  induced  him  to 
decline,  but  when  in  1768  the  invitation  was  renewed,  he  felt  com- 
pelled to  accept  it  and  leave  his  native  land.  He  came  to  America  at  a 
time  of  excitement  in  both  Church  and  State.  The  effects  of  the  great 
awakening  under  the  preaching  of  Whitefield  and  the  teaching  of 
Wesley  had  its  effect  even  upon  the  conservative  Presbyterians.  The 
colonies  ^vere  beginning  to  discover,  under  the  irritation  of  the  stamp 
tax  and  its  repeal,  the  onerous  exactions  of  the  British  Ministry  and 
to  consider  the  principles  of  true  British  liberty.  A  lover  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal freedom,  a  follower  of  logical  conclusions  from  incontestable  pre- 
mises. Dr.  Witherspoon  favoured  the  cause  of  America.  New  Jersey 
was  thoroughly  in  earnest  in  her  opposition,  and  William  Livingston, 
the  opponent  of  the  establishment  of  King's  College  and  of  an  Ameri- 
can Episcopate,  afterward  governor  of  New  Jersey  from  1 776  to  1 790, 
was  an  intimate  friend  and  associate  in  the  steps  leading  to  complete 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

independence  of  England.  By  his  pen,  by  his  eloquent  addresses,  and 
by  his  persuasive  influence  Dr.  Witherspoon  was  a  powerful  aid  in 
the  cause  of  liberty. 

With  all  his  attention  to  the  stirring  events  of  the  day,  he  was  yet 
the  keen  and  careful  overseer  of  the  education  of  those  ^vho  flocked  to 
Nassau  Hall  from  all  parts  of  the  colonies.  He  found  time  for  active 
political  work,  and  in  1776  was  elected  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey 
Congress,  and  bv  that  body  appointed,  in  June,  1776,  with  Richard 
Stockton,  Francis  Hopkinson,  John  Hart,  and  Abraham  Clark,  dele- 
gates to  the  Continental  Congress  which  met  in  Philadelphia.  These 
delegates  were  instructed  to  act  in  regard  to  the  independence  of 
the  colonies,  "as  their  judgements  should  dictate."  The  story  of  the 
' '  Declaration  of  Independence ' '  from  the  resolution  of  Richard  Henry 
Lee  on  June  7,  1776,  the  appointment  of  a  representative  committee 
on  June  1 1  to  consider  the  preparation  of  a  draft  of  a  Declaration , 
its  consideration  by  the  Congress  on  July  1  and  follo\\ing  days,  and 
its  formal  adoption  on  July  4,  need  not  be  repeated  here.  Upon  that 
great  document,  now  carefully  guarded  in  a  special  safe  in  the  State 
Department,  may  be  seen  the  firm  signature  of  President  Wither- 
spoon. He  continued  to  sit  in  Congress  during  the  greater  portion  of 
the  Revolution,  resigning  in  1782.  While  he  was  absent,  Professor 
Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  ably  supplied  his  place.  In  1790  the  burden 
of  years  came  upon  the  venerable  scholar,  and  he  commenced  to  grow 
blind.  The  warm  esteem  of  his  colleagues,  the  attentions  of  his  many 
friends  and  admirers,  cheered  his  declining  days,  and  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  Nassau  Hall  constantly  gaining  in  numbers  and 
reputation.  Its  faculty  and  its  students  were  an  enthusiastic  and  pro- 
gressive body.  He  died  on  November  15,  1794.  He  was  sincerely 
mourned  as  a  scholar,  patriot,  and  Christian  teacher  by  all  who  knew 
his  worth  and  excellence. 

Dr.  Witherspoon's  chief  works  are: 

Ecclesiastical  Characteristics,  1753 

Essay  on  Justification,  1756 

Inquiry  into  the  Nature  and  Effects  of  the  Stage,  1757 

Essay  on  Regeneration,  1764 

Essay  on  Independent  Subjects,  three  volumes,  1764 
A  complete  edition  of  his  ' '  Works ' '  was  published  in  Philadelphia  in 

[    104  ] 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

1803.  Another  edition  in  nine  volumes  was  published  in  Edinburgh 
in  1815. 

Samuel  Stanhope  Smith. 

Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  became  president  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey  on  the  death  of  Dr.  John  Witherspoon  in  November,  1794.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Blair)  Smith,  and  was 
born  at  Pequa,  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  March  16,  1750. 
His  father  taught  a  Latin  academy,  at  which  he  was  prepared  for 
college.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1764, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  the  conduct  of  the  academy.  In  1770  he 
was  made  tutor  in  the  classics  and  belles-lettres  at  his  Alma  Mater. 
In  1773,  after  completing  his  course  in  theology  and  being  licensed 
to  preach,  he  went  on  a  missionary  tour  in  western  Virginia.  With 
the  desire  to  retain  Mr.  Smith  in  that  region,  a  college  was  founded 
in  Prince  Edward  County,  under  the  name  of  Hampden  Sidney  Col- 
lege, in  1776.  Mr.  Smith  became  its  first  president  and  the  pastor  of 
the  Church  which  he  had  gathered  in  the  college  settlement. 

In  1779  he  returned  to  Princeton  as  professor  of  moral  philosophy. 
During  the  absence  of  Dr.  Witherspoon  and  Professor  Houston  at 
the  sessions  of  Congress  of  the  United  States  he  was  acting  presi- 
dent. In  1783  he  organized  a  theological  class,  out  of  which  grew 
the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  His  great  ability,  wide  know- 
ledge, especially  the  discoveries  that  were  being  made  in  what  were 
then  called  the  natural  sciences,  made  him  a  man  of  wide  reputation, 
and  one  of  the  most  progressive  college  officers  of  the  period.  As  a 
preacher  and  theologian,  he  was  justly  considered  the  peer  of  any  in 
the  country.  In  1786  he  was  entrusted  with  the  formation  of  a  plan  of 
government  for  the  Presbyterian  Church.  After  his  elevation  to  the 
presidency  of  the  college,  in  1795,  he  introduced  the  study  of  chem- 
istry, and  commenced  the  formation  of  a  cabinet  of  natural  history.  To 
the  successive  classes  he  was  helpful  and  paternal.  With  Mr.  Hobart 
he  formed  a  close  intimacy.  He  resigned  his  presidency  in  1812.  He 
died  on  August  21,  1819,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age. 


c  105 : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 
[From  Joseph  Warren  Scott] 

Nassau  Hall  Princeton  Nov  27  th  94 

My  Dear  Friend 

IN  what  manner  to  apologize  for  my  great  negle6l  in  writ- 
ing to  one,  who  has  ever  shown  towards  me  a  respedl  far 
beyond  what  I  deserve,  and  to  whom  I  have  every  reason  to 
believe  my  letters  are  always  acceptable  I  know  not;  espe- 
cialy  as  I  consi — you  as  one  for  whom  I  ought,  and  I  hope  I 
do  feel  a  tie  stronger  than  that  alone  which  worth  can  inspire; 
but  when  I  plainly  see  that  a  friendship  for  me,  is  united  with 
a  degree  of  merit  and  real  worth,  that  would  do  honor  to  a 
more  experienced  man;  I  feel  proud  of  such  a  friend,  and  at 
the  same  time  am  conscious  that  it  is,  and  no  doubt  will  be 
an  honor  to  me  in  whatever  situation  I  am  placed  by  Provi- 
dence. I  have  been  expedling  you  daily  and  therefore  delayed 
my  writing  till  the  present  time:  indeed  I  suppose  that  if  I 
were  not  to  write  that  would  be  no  hindrance  to  you,  for  you 
may  well  know,  that  even  if  I  do  not  write  to  you  frequently 
(as  I  confess  I  have  negle6led  to  do)  my  thoughts  are  often 
times  employed  with  you,  often  do  I  anticipate  the  time  when 
I  shall  see  you  again,  and  know  that  you  vdll  live  with  me; 
my  great  satisfaction  that  feel  arising  from  this  source,  I 
cannot  describe  to  you ;  leave  it  to  me  only  to  conceive.  For- 
syth just  now  received  a  letter  from  you,  I  read  in  his  counte- 
nance marks  of  pleasure,  which  could  not  fail  of  producing 
the  same  sensations  in  me  though  arising  from  a  differ- 
ent cause.  I  received  a  letter  from  Terhune  a  few  days  ago; 
he  is  now  at  Gravesend  reading  geography  and  history;  he 
did  intend  spending  the  winter  at  P^  but  the  result  of  his 
consideration  on  the  subjedl  was  that  he  would  alternately 
stay  at  New- York  and  Long-Island.  He  expe6ls  that  you 

C  106  2 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

will  write  him  immediately,  dire6ling  your  letters  to  Graves- 
end. 
I  must  study  at  my  lesson,  for  that  I  cannot  put  ofF  therefore 
I  bid  you  good  night  after  subscribing  myself 
your  Sincere  Friend 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

P  8  I  am  in  so  much  of  a  hurry  that  you  must  pardon  all  errors. 
I  was  just  in  Mr  Caldwell's  room,  and  told  him  that  I  was 
going  to  write  to  you,  he  requested  me  to  present  you  his  re- 
spe6ls  with  the  following  message  viz.  If  you  are  coming,  be 
expeditious,  or  otherwise  we  will  not  have  a  sufficient  barrier 
against  infidelity,  which  is  spreading  its  dominion  far  and  wide: 
This  stroke  I  apprehend  is  meant  for  me,  he  knows  that  I 
have  been  reading  Hume,  and  is  frequently  giveing  me  sharp 
strokes  about  my  belief.  I  have  said  that  reading  the  above- 
named  (I  thought)  rendered  any  person  less  bigotted;  Cald- 
well from  this  supposes  that  I  believe  all  that  said  by  Hume. 
Mr  Finley  is  often  questioning  me  about  your  coming  when  it 
will  be,  he  seems  impatiently  expecting  it. 

I  am  your  afFeftionate  Friend 

Warren. 

Superscription: 

M".  John  Henry  Hobart,  No.  79  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia 


ANNOTATION 

Fashmiable  Infidelity. 

The  infidelity  so  fashionable  at  this  time,  with  other  importations  from  \ 
France  and  Italy,  appears  to  have  made  much  less  impression  upon 
the  students  and  professors  at  Princeton  than  elsewhere.  The  read- 
ing of  the  essavs  of  the  famous  Scotch  philosopher,  David  Hume 
(born  at  Edinburgh  in  1711 ;  died,  1776),  was  considered  essential  to 
the  education  of  a  gendeman  in  certain  parts  of  the  countrv.  The  accu- 

c  107 : 


HOB.VRT  CORRESPONDENCE 

sation  against  Thomas  Jefferson  and  other  Virginia  statesmen  that 
they  were  atheists  m  as  based  largely  upon  their  avowed  admiration  of 
Hume  and  others  who  had  abandoned  the  Christian  religion.  It  was 
also  said  that  the  first  Bishop  of  Virginia,  Dr.  James  Madison,  was 
much  influenced  by  Hume  and  his  followers. 


[  From  Joseph  AVarren  Scoit  ] 

Nassau  Hall  Princeton  Dec  4''' 

My  Dear  Friend 

I  JUST  now  received  your  inexplicable  letter  of  the  3*^  mst 
by  Dickson;  and  was  much  surprized  to  read  a  clause 
in  it,  which  respdls  your  writing  to  me;  "Hitherto  my  letters 
"  have  been  so  long,  I  am  afraid  you  were  tired  reading  them. 

"A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.  Good  bye.        j.  h.  h. 

and  again  "Since  you  have  so  much  pleasure  from  my  letters 
"to  Forsyth,  it  will  be  unnecessary  to  write  to  you."  What 
means  all  this.^  If  you  could  ever  doubt  of  the  truth  of  my  pro- 
fessions to  you  I  would  not  wonder  at  it.  However  all  your 
letter  I  can  understand  better  than  that  which  relates  to  in- 
fidelity. I  mentioned  the  conversation  between  Caldwell  and 
myself.  I  thought  I  might  mention  it  to  you  in  trust  the  lec- 
tures that  I  received  from  Caldwell  on  account  of  my  read- 
ing Hunie:  and  the  reason  why  I  continued  reading  because 
I  thought  it  made  me  more  candid  in  judgement. 

When  you  come,  I  shall  have  a  better  opportunity  of  shew- 
ing that  I  am  in  no  way  related  to  infidelity,  only  that  I  am 
not  bigotted. 

That  part  of  your  letter  which  relates  to  my  studies  I  shall  en- 
deavour to  profitfrom  in  future ;  although  to  keep  my  thoughts 
at  home  would  be  disagreeable  to  my  feelings. 

Playing  shinney  will  be  dispensed  with  on  my  part  with  the 
C    108   ] 


JOSEPH  W.\RREN  SCOTT 

greatest  pleasure  to  take  in  its  place  avery  agreable  substitute. 
I  am  your  Sincere  Friend 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

"A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient."  This  part  of  your  letter  I 
cannot  pass  over  without  asking  why  you  wish  to  ridicule  me 
in  my  own  eyes. 
The  mail  is  closed  or  nearly  time  to. 

Superscription: 

M».  John  H.  Hobart,  No  79  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia 

Endorsement : 

M*.  Jos:  Warren  Scott.  December  4*.   1794 

ANNOTATION 

John  M.  Dickso7i. 

John  M.  Dickson  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 

1794. 


[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  ] 

New  Brunswic  April  28 

My  Dear  Friend 

YOURS  of  the  25th  just  came  to  hand,  by  what  means 
it  has  been  delayed  I  know  not  but  so  it  is.  I  am  much 
surprised  to  hear  that  you  have  heard  nothing  from  Forsyth 
since  he  left  you ;  he  passed  through  this  place,  the  day  after 
he  left  you,  on  his  way  to  N.  York,  he  then  said  that  he  would 
write  to  you  the  next  day  he  proposed  returning  about  this 
time  but  I  am  apprehensive  the  charms  of  the  city  will  not 
permit  him  to  depart  so  soon,  especially  as  he  experts  that 
you  will  go  to  Philadelphia  so  soon. 

To  your  enquiries  respe6ling  my  reading  in  the  vacation  if 
I  answer  not  so  much  as  you  would  have  expefted  you  can 

C  109  '} 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

yourself  find  out  a  good  excuse  for  me  I  have  read  more  at 
the  request  of  my  sisters  than  for  any  thing  else  they  have  been 
reading  Coxes  Switzerland  and  insisted  that  I  should  read  it 
for  them  instead  of  Goquet,  but  on  the  next  library  day  I  shall 
take  out  Goquet. 

Next  week  I  shall  visit  N.  York  in  company  with  Mama  & 
one  of  my  sisters  I  shall  certainly  visit  Skinner.  I  am  in  a 
hurry  the  mail  is  just  closed 

Adieu 

your  Friend  sincerely 

Jos  War  Scott 

No  superscription. 

Endorsement  in  Bishop  Hobarfs  handwriting: 
April  zS"".  1795. 


ANNOTATION 

William  Coxe. 

William  Coxe  was  born  in  London  in  1747.  He  studied  at  Cambridge 
University,  and  in  1768  became  a  fellow  of  King's  College.  He  was 
an  historical  student,  and  spent  some  years  on  the  Continent  gather- 
ing material  for  several  of  his  books.  Upon  his  return  to  England  he 
was  made  rector  of  Bemerton,  which  it  will  be  remembered  ^\'as  the 
parish  of  holy  George  Herbert.  In  1808  he  was  appointed  Archdeacon 
of  Wilts.  For  seven  years  before  his  death  he  was  totally  blind.  He 
died  at  Bemerton  in  1828.  He  wrote  many  books,  which  were  widely 
read.  Among  the  more  important  are: 

Sketch  of  the  National,  Civil  and  Political  State  of  Switzerland,  1779 

Travels  in  Poland,  Russia,  Sweden,  and  Denmark,  1784 

Travels  in  Switzerland,  1789 

Histories  of  the  House  of  Austria  and  of  the  Kings  of  Spain  of  the 
House  of  Bourbon 

Private  Correspondence  of  Charles  Talbot,  Duke  of  Shrewsbury, 
1821 

Memoirs  of  Marlborough,  Walpole,  and  Henry  Pelham 

Literary  Life  and  Select  Works  of  Bishop  Stillingfleet 

C  110  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  July  i6,  1795. 

Dear  John, 

I  Received  your  letter  of  the  7'^.  inst.  with  a  copy  of  your 
Diploma  which  you  desire  me  to  get  written  for  you.  I 
have  given  it  to  M^  Lewis  who  I  think  will  do  it  better  than 
any  person  I  know  of  in  the  city.  I  should  have  written  to  you 
sooner,  but  at  the  time  I  received  your  letter  I  expected  Rob^ 
would  have  gone  to  New  York  in  a  day  or  two  after ;  and  when 
his  going  was  put  off,  I  expected  by  this  time  your  Diploma 
would  be  finished  when  I  could  also  send  it  by  him.  M'.  Lewis 
writes  in  one  of  the  public  offices,  and  this  month  being  the  be- 
ginning of  a  quarter  when  they  have  more  business  than  com- 
mon in  the  public  offices  he  has  not  had  much  time  to  spare. 
Besides,  the  weather  has  been  so  very  warm,  that  he  could 
not  write  so  well  as  he  seems  desirous  the  Diploma  should  be 
done.  I  have  however  no  but  but  that  it  will  be  done  by  the 
end  of  the  week ;  and  as  opportunities  between  this  City  and 
New  York  are  frequent,  you  may  expe6l  it  very  soon:  proba- 
bly in  the  course  of  next  week. 

You  need  make  no  apology  for  anythingyou  want  done  which 
I  can  do  for  you  in  this  city :  as  I  shall  be  so  far  from  consider- 
ing it  troublesome,  that  I  shall  take  a  pleasure  in  doing  it. 

There  is  very  little  business  doing  now  as  is  usual  at  this 
season  of  the  year. — M^  Mitchell  left  us  about  a  month  ago, 
which  has  thrown  some  additional  business  on  my  hands.  I 
shall  however,  have  leisure  to  write  to  you  occasionally,  and 
I  expe6l  you  will  do  the  same:  as  I  shall  always  receive  as 
much  pleasure  from  hearing  from  you,  as  you  can  do  from 
my  letters,  even  altho'  I  have  the  advantage  of  you  in  point 
of  information,  of  both  foreign  and  domestic  affairs. 
[   111   ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

I  hope  you  have  not  forgotten  that  before  you  left  the  city 
you  mentioned  that  you  expefted  to  visit  Philad^  in  the  course 
of  the  Summer,  and  that  nothing  has  occured  to  prevent  you. 
I  would  be  much  pleased  with  it;  as  I  flatter  myself  I  would 
have  more  of  your  company  than  I  could  have  at  the  time 
you  usually  come  here,  as  at  that  time,  we  are  generally  in 
the  midst  of  business. 

The  conditional  ratification  of  the  Treaty  between  this  coun- 
try and  Great  Britain,  excited,  as  was  expedled,  the  fury  of 
the  Democrats  to  the  highest  pitch;  and  by  their  clamour, 
and  misrepresentations  of  it,  a  great  number  of  well  disposed 
citizens  were  so  far  imposed  upon  as  to  join  in  the  outcry 
against  it.  For  two  or  three  days  you  could  hear  nothing  but 
the  most  violent  declaiming,  how  prejudicial  it  would  be  to 
the  United  States  ;  accompanied  with  shameful  abuse  of  the 
Senate  and  M'.  Jay.  And  after  all,  the  fennent  was  raised  by 
men  who  from  their  situation  could  not  possibly  be  afFedled 
by  the  treaty  whether  it  be  favourable  or  unfavourable  to  the 
U.  S.  and  besides  they  are  men  who  do  not  understand  it; 
and  of  course  are  unable  to  form  a  right  judgement  of  it.  It 
is  not  an  easy  matter  to  examine  it  properly  so  as  fully  to 
understand  it;  and  to  know  the  precise  relation  which  existed 
between  the  country  on  every  article;  which,  however,  is 
necessary  to  be  done  before  any  impartial  man  could  give 
his  opinion  either  on  the  one  side  or  the  other.  But  the  real 
cause  of  the  noise  raised  by  the  Democrats  was  distin6l  from 
the  merits  or  demerits  of  the  Treaty:  one  of  the  parties  is 
Great  Britain,  and  they  knew  how  easy  it  would  be  by  mis- 
representing a  few  of  the  articles  of  the  treaty,  to  inlist  the 
passions  of  the  people  on  their  side  and  by  that  means  throw 
some  odium  on  the  officers  of  Government.  There  can  be 
now  doubt  of  this,  when  we  refle6l  who  the  men  are,  and 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

what  is  their  situation  in  life.  It  is  remarkable,  that  altho' 
several  attempts  were  made  in  different  places  to  procure  a 
petition  to  the  President  and  Senate  against  the  Treaty,  that 
the  only  place  where  they  succeeded  was  in  New  Jersey, 
which  of  all  the  States  in  the  Union  can  have  the  least  interest 
in  it.  It  has  always  been  my  opinion  from  the  first  time  I 
saw  it,  that,  if  G.  B.  should  accede  to  the  condition  on  which 
the  Senate  have  recommended  to  the  President  to  ratify  it,  it 
would  on  the  whole  be  advantageous  to  the  United  States; 
and  I  am  pursuaded  that  as  soon  as  the  ferment  is  over  (and 
it  subsides  faster  than  the  most  sanguine  friends  of  the  treaty 
could  have  expe6led )  the  people  will  view  the  Treaty  in  a  dif- 
ferent light;  and  that  all  who  are  well  disposed,  will  come  to 
the  very  rational  conclusion  that  it  is  as  favourable  as  could 
be  obtained.  It  would  be  easy  to  shew  that  not  one  of  the  ob- 
jedlions  which  have  been  made  to  it  are  solid;  and  that  they 
will  only  apply  to  theerronious  constru61:ions  which  the  writers 
and  their  friends  have  put  upon  the  different  articles.  M^  Jay 
had  not  the  fixing  of  the  terms  of  the  Treaty;  and  altho'  he  is 
certainly  a  man  of  great  talents,  he  had  men  equal  to  him  to 
negotiate  with.  Whatever  some  people  would  have  us  believe 
of  the  integrity  of  the  British  Ministry,  they  are  doubtless  men 
of  great  abilities  and  experience,  perhaps  superiour  to  any  in 
the  world;  and  from  such  as  them,  it  could  not  be  expedled 
that  any  favours  would  be  granted  to  the  United  States  with- 
out something  which  they  considered  as  equivilent  granted  to 
them  in  return. 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  in  what  manner  the  treaty  was 
made  public.  Such  condu6l  does  not  do  much  credit  to  those 
who  were  concerned  in  it;  and  it  will  throw  some  light 
upon  M^  Mason's  charadler  when  we  hear  of  his  sending  the 
Treaty  to  a  printer  for  publication  in  violation  of  a  positive 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

resolution  of  the  Senate  passed  a  few  days  before  it  broke  up. 

The  report  you  heard  of  a  few  worthless  fellows  burning 
M^  Jay's  Effegy  here  on  the  4  July,  altho  not  without  founda- 
tion, was  very  little  noticed;  as  there  were  so  few  concerned 
in  it,  and  was  conduced  so  quietly.  It  was  at  Kensington  be- 
tween eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  Ab'.  6  or  7  of  the 
lighthorsemen  heard  of  it,  and  very  imprudently  went  to  dis- 
perse them;  as  it  was  very  improper  for  them  to  go  without 
any  authority,  in  their  military  capacity,  when  the  rabble, 
however  deserving  of  punishment,  had  behaved  so  quietly,  as 
not  to  authorize  any  interference  of  that  kind. 

Had  a  sufficient  number  of  them  gone  as  individuals,  or  any 
other  persons  and  given  the  fellows  a  good  horsewhipping, 
I  should  have  been  glad,  as  such  attempts  have  a  tendency 
to  lessen  the  regard  which  people  ought  to  have  for  their  pub- 
lic officers  so  long  as  they  are  officers  and  condu6l  themselves 
with  propriety. 

I  have  written  so  much  that  I  am  fearfull  you  will  not  have 
patience  to  finish  this  letter;  but  I  must  trust  to  your  indul- 
gence. 

The  subscription  for  Gary's  edition  of  Guthrie's  Geography 
was  closed  three  or  four  weeks  ago,  and  the  price  advanced 
to  16  doll''^  Please  to  remember  me  to  M'.  Forsyth,  and  be- 
lieve me  to  be,  my  dear  John,  Yours  affefty 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription: 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

John  Lewis. 

John  Lewis  was  a  scrivener.  He  lived  at  No.  121  North  Fifth  Street, 

Philadelphia. 


C  114  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

Edward  Mitchell. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  afterward  clerk  to  William  Cobbett.  See  note  before 

his  letter  of  May  14,  1798. 

Ratification  of  Treaty  with  Great  Britain. 
The  work  of  Judge  Jay  in  England  had  been  one  of  peculiar  delicacy 
and  difficulty.  Few,  even  among  the  more  liberal,  had  any  cordial  re- 
gard for  the  United  States.  The  losses  of  the  Revolutionary  contest 
Mere  still  felt.  It  was  only  by  firmness,  gentle  persistency,  and  pro- 
found diplomacy  that  he  could  secure  terms  which  would  be  accepted 
at  all  in  this  country. 

The  negotiations  were  long,  the  questions  discussed  intricate.  Fi- 
nally, the  British  negotiators  and  Judge  Jay  came  to  an  agreement, 
and  on  November  19,  1794,  the  treaty  was  signed.  It  was  sent  in 
duplicate  on  two  different  vessels.  The  ships  made  very  slow  passages, 
and  it  was  not  until  after  Congress  had  adjourned  that  a  copy  reached 
Philadelphia,  and  was,  on  March  7,  1795,  placed  by  Mr.  Randolph, 
Secretary  of  State,  in  the  hands  of  the  President.  The  Senate  was  at 
once  summoned  to  meet  in  special  session,  and  on  June  8  twenty-four 
members  were  in  their  places  and  the  treaty  was  submitted.  Action  was 
taken  in  secret  and  no  copy  of  the  treaty  made  public.  This  aroused 
the  ire  of  the  Republicans,  who  abused  Judge  Jay  as  an  aristocrat  who 
had  sold  himself  for  British  gold.  When  it  was  learned  that  he  had 
kissed  the  queen's  hand,  a  writer  in  "The  Oracle  "  said  :  "He  kissed 
the  queen's  hand,  and  with  that  kiss  betrayed  away  the  rights  of  man 
and  the  liberty  of  America." 

On  July  4  the  effigy  of  Mr.  Jay  was  burned  in  Philadelphia.  It  was 
placed  erect  on  the  platform  of  a  pillory.  An  iron  rod  was  put  into  the 
right  hand ;  a  copy  of  Swift's  speech  on  British  depredation,  in  the 
left,  with  these  mottoes  on  the  cover:  "AVwzo  repente  turpissimus,'''' 
and  "  A^o«  deficit  alter.''''  By  a  hempen  cord  was  suspended  from  the 
neck  John  Adams'  "Defence  of  the  Constitution,"  with  this  line  from 
Ovid  :  ''''  Scriberejussit  aunan.''''  After  seven  hours  it  was  taken  down, 
guillotined,  the  clothes  set  on  fire,  and  the  body,  which  was  filled  with 
gunpowder,  blown  to  fragments. 

When  the  articles  of  the  treaty  and  provisional  ratification  by  the 
Senate,  on  June  24,  by  a  strict  party  vote,  were  made  known  in  an 
underhand  manner,  the  howl  of  rage  was  increased,  and  in  everv  part 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

of  the  country  were  public  meetings,  burnings  of  the  treaty,  abuse 
of  all  Federalists,  and  even  slurs  upon  the  fair  fame  of  Washington. 
The  hesitation  of  the  President  in  affixing  his  signature  and  the  earnest 
remonstrances  of  jVIr.  Randolph  against  signing  without  modification, 
did  not  allay  the  excitement.  The  substance  of  the  treaty  was  published 
in  "The  Aurora"  on  June  29,  from  the  notes  of  one  who  had  seen  the 
treaty  and  had  written  down  what  he  could  remember,  and  then  sent 
it  to  the  editor,  Benjamin  Franklin  Bache.  Stevens  Thomson  Mason, 
a  Senator  from  Virginia,  read  the  summary,  and  then  sent  a  copy  of 
the  treatv  in  full  with  a  note  as  to  the  actual  terms  of  the  document. 
Mr.  Bache  put  the  note  and  the  treaty  in  pamphlet  form  on  July  1, 
and  it  was  soon  in  the  hands  of  the  people  from  Maine  to  Georgia. 
"The  chief  features  of  the  treaty  may  be  briefly  summed  up  :  Pay 
for  the  negroes  carried  oflby  Carleton  was  not  provided  for  ;  the  right 
of  search  was  not  renounced;  the  claim  of  Americans  to  a  fair  share 
of  the  British  West  Indian  trade  was  not  allowed  ;  no  American  trader 
could  enter  a  port  of  Bermuda,  or  St.  Kitts,  or  St.  Eustatia,  or  of  an 
island  of  the  Caribbean  sea,  subject  to  the  British  crown,  on  a  ship 
of  more  than  seventy  tons.  He  could  not  go  to  any  of  the  harbors,  nor 
sail  up  any  of  the  rivers,  nor  trade  at  any  of  the  ports  of  Canada,  or 
Nova  Scotia,  or  New  Brunswick,  or  of  the  territory  o^vned  by  the 
company  of  Hudson's  Bay;  yet  British  ships  were  free  to  come  into 
any  haven  of  the  United  States  and  sail  up  any  river  to  the  highest 
entry  port.  One  board  of  commissioners  was  to  determine  the  eastern 
boundary-line  of  Maine ;  another  was  to  determine  the  amount  of 
British  debts.  These  damages  the  United  States  was  to  pay.  A  third 
was  to  estimate  the  losses  inflicted  on  American  merchants  by  the 
illegal  capture  of  their  ships  by  English  privateers  and  men-of-war. 
These  damages  England  was  to  pay.  On  the  first  of  June,  1796, 
the  frontier  posts  on  Lake  Champlain,  at  Oswegatchie  and  Oswego, 
Niagara,  Detroit,  and  Michilimackinac,  were  all  to  be  surrendered. 
Murderers  and  forgers  were  mutually  to  be  given  up,  the  rights  of 
privateers  were  prescribed,  a  list  of  contraband  foods  was  given,  and 
the  treatment  of  armed  ships  clearly  laid  down.  It  was  provided  that 
debts  should  not  be  sequestered ;  that  the  merchants  of  the  one  na- 
tion should  be  suffered  to  hold  lands  and  houses  in  the  domain  of 
the  other ;  and  that  the  first  ten  articles  of  the  treaty  should  last  for- 
ever. The  remaining  eighteen,  the  twelfth  alone  excepted,  were  to  be 
C    116  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

in  force  for  twelve  years.  The  t\\-elfth  A\as  to  expire  in  two  years  from 
the  day  on  which  the  war  with  France  should  end.  It  related  to  the 
West  Indian  trade."  [McMasfer's  Bisto/y,  vol.  ii,  pp.  245,  246.] 

Stevens  Thomson  Mason. 

Stevens  Thomson  Mason  was  born  in  Chapawansick,  Virginia,  in 
1760.  His  father  \\as  Judge  Thomson  Mason  of  the  old  Virginia 
family.  He  was  educated  at  William  and  Mary  College ;  he  was  a 
volunteer  aide  to  General  Washington,  and  was  ultimately  made  brig- 
adier-general of  the  Virginia  Militia.  He  served  in  the  Virginia  House 
of  Burgesses  and  as  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion. Upon  the  resignation  of  James  Monroe  to  accept  the  mission 
to  France,  Mr.  Mason  w  as  chosen  in  May,  1794,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
from  Virginia  in  the  United  States  Senate.  In  1797  he  was  elected 
for  the  full  term,  which  expired  March  4,  1803.  He  died  at  Phila- 
delphia on  May  10,  1803. 

Matthew  Carey. 

Matthe\\'  Carey  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1760.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  he  emigrated  to  Philadelphia,  and  opened  a  bookstore.  His  cour- 
tesy, knowledge  of  books,  and  sound  literary  taste  at  once  gained  for 
him  a  large  patronage.  He  soon  commenced  publishing  books  of  value, 
largely  reprints.  He  encouraged  American  talent,  however,  and  aided 
many  authors  to  gain  a  hearing  by  his  extensive  connection  both  in 
the  United  States  and  Europe.  Many  original  productions  of  Ameri- 
can authors  were  published  in  his  monthly  magazine, ' '  The  American 
Museum,"  one  of  the  earliest  magazines  in  the  country.  Another  of  his 
enterprises  was  an  edition  of  the  Holy  Bible.  His  business  increased 
rapidly,  and  was  soon  the  largest  in  the  country.  In  1835  he  retired 
from  active  life.  His  son,  Henry  Clarke  Carey,  then  became  the  head 
of  the  firm,  which  was  then  Carey,  Lea  &  Blanchard.  Mr.  Matthew 
Carey  died  in  1839,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Carey  occasionally  advertised  Guthrie's  Geography  in  the  news- 
papers of  Philadelphia.  His  announcement  in  Dunlap's  "American 
Daily  Advertiser  "  reads  :  ' '  This  day  is  published  by  Matthew  Carey, 
No.  118  Market  Street,  the  Fourteenth  Number  of  Guthrie's  Geo- 
graphy, improved.  Embellished  with  a  large  sheet  map  of  Germany 
and  S^vitzerland.  This  valuable  work  will  contain,  exclusive  of  the 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

maps  in  the  London  Edition  of  1 792,  Maps  of  Ne\\'  Hampshire,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  A^ermont,  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Kentucky, 
North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  and  the  seat  of  the 
present  War.  The  subscription  for  the  work  will  be  continued  open 
at  the  present  rate  of  Twelve  Dollars  till  the  First  Day  of  November 
next;  after  which  it  will  be  raised  to  Fourteen  Dollars." 

William  Guthrie. 

William  Guthrie  was  born  at  Brechan,  Forfarshire,  Scotland,  in 
1708.  He  was  graduated  from  King's  College,  Aberdeen.  When  a 
young  man  he  \\  ent  to  London.  Here  he  became  a  writer  of  political 
pamphlets,  historical  studies,  and  other  Morks  for  ^hich  there  was 
a  demand.  His  life  was  laborious  and  industrious.  In  1770  he  pub- 
lished "A  Historical  and  Geographical  Grammar,"  which  was  long 
considered  the  standard  work  on  geography.  The  twenty-fourth  edi- 
tion was  published  in  1827.  His  "History  of  England,"  in  three  vol- 
umes, published  from  1744  to  1750,  was  very  popular.  He  died  in 
March,  1770. 

Henry  Clarke  Carey. 

His  son,  Henry  Clarke,  was  distinguished  as  one  of  the  earliest  writ- 
ers upon  political  economy,  and  was  soon  recognized  as  an  authority 
on  the  subject.  He  retired  from  business  entirely  and  gave  all  his  time 
to  presenting  in  every  possible  wa}-,  in  pamphlet,  magazine,  lectures, 
and  debates,  the  theories  of  government,  finance,  and  political  science, 
that  he  thought  correct.  He  died  on  October  13,  1879. 


[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

PhUadelphia  August  5"'.  1795. 

Dear  John, 

YOUR  Diploma  is  at  last  finished  after  so  many  delays; 
and  I  think  it  is  very  well  done.  I  have  sent  it,  and  a 
small  btmdle  from  your  mama,  by  my  Brother,  who  I  know 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

will  take  care  to  deliver  them  to  you.  He  expedled  to  return 
to  New  York  sooner,  but  had  to  go  to  Baltimore  before  he 
could  finish  the  business  he  came  upon. 

There  has  a  great  deal  of  rain  fallen  within  these  eight  days. 
The  creeks  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  City  have  been  higher 
than  they  ever  were,  within  the  recolle6lion  of  the  oldest  in- 
habitants. Most  of  the  bridges  and  the  mill-dams  which  were 
on  them,  were  carried  away;  which  will  be  a  heavy  loss  to 
many  individuals,  as  well  as  to  the  public. 

M'.  &  M'^  Smith  returned  from  the  Sea-Shore  last  friday 
evening,  which  was  sooner  than  they  expe61:ed  when  they  left 
this.  It  however  turns  out  to  be  very  fortunate:  for  had  they 
not  left  the  Sea-Shore  at  the  time  they  did,  they  would  have 
had  to  stay  during  the  wet  weather,  which  would  have  been 
very  unpleasant. 

I  have  read  with  much  pleasure  your  letter  by  M^  Smith. 
The  late  town  meetings  in  New  York  and  this  city  relative 
to  the  treaty  seemed  only  a  revival  of  the  clamour  which  was 
raised  against  it  on  its  first  publication.  The  successful  pro- 
ceedings of  a  certain  party  in  Boston,  on  the  same  business, 
made  a  like  step  here,  advisable.  However,  all  these  meetings 
as  you  observe,  be  their  decisions  what  they  may,  can  have 
no  efFe6l  on  the  opinion  of  sensible  and  candid  men.  And  I 
believe  that  the  treaty  is  generally  approved  of  by  people 
of  that  description  thro'  every  part  of  the  Union.  Some  of  its 
friends  have  come  forward  in  the  New  York  papers  in  its  vin- 
dication, and  I  think  they  place  it  in  such  a  light  that  altho' 
their  arguments  may  not  convince  the  opponents  of  the  treaty, 
they  will  go  near  to  silence  them ,  so  far  as  to  prevent  their 
attempting  to  reason  against  it.  The  Democrats  have  in  gen- 
eral a  shorter,  and  easier  way  of  opposing  any  public  measure, 
than  reasoning. 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

It  was  matter  of  surprise  to  members  here  that  Do6l.  Shippen 
made  his  appearance  as  chairman  at  the  late  town  meeting. 
Popularity  must  have  been  his  only  motive. 

The  respe6lable  part  of  the  Committee  which  was  appointed 
were  not  at  the  meeting,  and  it  was  probably  done  without 
their  knowledge. 

I  intended  to  have  written  to  you  more  fully,  but  I  have  been 
a  good  deal  engaged,  and  my  Brother  is  waiting. 
I  am  D'.  John  Your  Atfe6l>. 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription  : 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 
By  R.  Robertson. 


ANNOTATIONS 

William  Shippen. 

William,  son  of  Dr.  William  and  Susannah  (Harrison)  Shippen,  was 
born  December  21,  1736,  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  He  ^\as 
graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1754.  He  studied  medi- 
cine under  his  father,  who  was  a  well-known  and  successful  physi- 
cian, from  1754  to  1758.  He  then  went  to  England  and  continued  his 
studies  in  London  under  Dr.  John  and  Dr.  William  Hunter,  and 
Dr.  MacKenzie,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  University  of  Edinburgh, 
where  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine  in  1761. 
He  returned  in  1762  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  lectured  on  anatomy  to 
twehe  students,  and  soon  had  in  addition  an  extensive  practice  as 
a  physician.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Medical  School  of 
the  College  of  Philadelphia,  in  which  he  was  professor  of  anatomy 
and  surgery  from  1765  to  1780. 

On  July  15,  1776,  he  became  head  surgeon  to  the  flying  camp 
of  the  Revolutionary  Army.  On  April  11,  1777,  he  was  elected  by 
Congress,  director-general  of  the  militarj'  hospitals.  He  resigned,  on 
January  9,  1781,  after  having  been  accused,  tried,  and  acquitted  of 
dishonesty  by  a  court-martial.  In  1778  he  succeeded  his  father  as 
physician  to  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  and  served  for  one  vear.  He 
[    120    ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

resumed  that  duty  in  1791,  and  continued  in  charge  until  1802.  From 
1780  to  1790  he  w  as  professor  of  anatomy,  surgery,  and  midwifery, 
in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University-  of  Pennsylvania.  From 
1791  to  1806  he  confined  himself  to  anatomy.  He  was  a  member, 
curator,  and  secretary  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  a  trus- 
tee of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and  an  honourary  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society.  He  died  at  Germantown,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  July  11,  1808. 

Robert  Robertson. 

Robert,  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret  Robertson,  was  born  near  Fal- 
kirk, Scodand,  February  16,  1774.  He  came  to  New  York  when  a 
boy  and  was  taken  into  the  family  of  his  uncle,  Alexander  Robertson, 
a  successful  merchant  and  a  brother-in-law  of  Robert  Smith.  After- 
wards he  was  a  clerk  for  Mr.  Smith  in  Philadelphia  and  became 
a  prosperous  merchant. 


[    121     ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  John  Johnson  Savrs  ] 

New-Ark  August  14'^'    1795 

Dear  Sir, 

I  HAVE  been  debating  with  myself  whether  I  should  make 
an  apology  for  not  writing  to  you  before  &  upon  mature 
consideration  I  thought  it  was  unnecessary  &  perhaps  would 
be  deemed  trifling.  I  shall  therefore  only  intreat  you  not  to 
impute  my  negle6l  to  want  of  friendship,  but  put  the  most 
favorable  constru6lion  on  it  you  can.  I  was  much  pleased  when 
I  was  informed  that  you  had  begun  the  study  of  Divinity; 
not  only  because  it  is  held  in  contempt  by  the  generality  of 
young  men;  but  because  I  was  convinced  that  your  engaging 
manners  would  also  promote  the  interest  of  religion,  which 
I  believe  has  suffered  more  from  the  moroseness  &  gloomi- 
ness of  some  of  its  professors  than  any  other  cause,  or  per- 
haps every  other  combined.  As  you  are  fixed  at  Princeton  not 
among  churcliinen  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  inform  me  what 
your  sentiments  are  respe6ling  Presbyterian  Ordination, Gov- 
ernment &  the  Validity  of  their  ordinances.  By  this  I  can  de- 
termine if  you  are  sound,  as  I  hold  myself  quite  orthodox. 
In  return  I  will  send  you  mine.  I  shall  therefore  leave  all  till 
I  hear  from  you,  &  then  you  may  expe6l  a  few  pages  if  you 
comply  with  my  request. 

I  remain  yours 

affedtionately 

John  J.  Sayrs 
N.B.  The  first  letter  in  a        "j 
correspondence  must  always  > 
be  short.  j 

Superscription : 

M"   John  Hobart,  Student  of  Divinity,  Prince-Ton. 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  August  24,   179;. 

Dear  John, 

A  LTHO'  I  expert  to  have  the  pleasure  soon  of  seeing 
,Z~\.  you  here,  I  have  thought  it  best  to  inform  you  that 
I  have  paid  M'.  Heberton  51/.  in  order  that,  if  you  think 
proper  you  may  settle  it  with  your  friend  before  you  leave 
Princeton. 

I  have  not  heard  with  certainty  whether  your  Brother 
has  suffered  by  the  late  rains;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
he  has  not  as  M'.  Smith  has  had  two  letters  from  him  lately, 
in  neither  of  which  does  he  say  anything  about  the  rains, 
which  I  think  he  would  have  done,  had  he  been  a  sufferer  by 
them. 

There  are  no  news  here  worth  communicating.  M'.  RandolphT 
has  resigned  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State ;  and  many  reasons 
are  assigned  for  it,  the  greater  part  of  which,  I  dare  say,  never 
occured  to  himself.  I  believe  him  to  be  a  man  whose  intentions 
are  good ;  but  as  his  abilities  are  not  of  the  first  rate,  his  re- 
signation is  the  less  to  be  regretted.  I  have  understood  that 
he  is  very  deficient  in  firmness,  a  necessary  qualification  for  a 
public  officer,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  clamour  which 
was  raised  against  the  treaty  had  too  much  influence  upon 
him . 

It  is  said  that  M^  Rutledge  who,  opposed  the  Treaty  with 
so  much  violence  at  the  meeting  in  Charlestown,  has  changed 
his  opinion  since  his  appointment  to  be  Chief  Justice ;  and  that 
at  the  meeting  of  the  judges,  which  the  President  called  the 
day  before  he  signed  the  treaty,  M'.  R.  did  not  only  not  oppose 
the  signing  of  it;  but  joined  in  opinion  with  the  other  judges, 

C  123  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

that  the  President  ought  to  sign  it.  This  is  a  striking  instance 
of  the  influence  of  good  company. 

I  am,  my  dear  John, 

AfFedlionately  yours, 

James  Robertson 

Superscription: 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

George  Heherton. 

George  Heberton  was  a  merchant  living  at  No.  15  South  Second  Street, 

Philadelphia. 

Edmund  Randolph. 

Edmund,  a  son  of  John  Randolph,  was  born  in  Williamsburg,  Vir- 
ginia, on  August  10,  1753.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of 
William  and  Mary,  and  then  studied  law  with  his  father,  who  was 
the  King's  attorney.  His  father  fled  to  England  in  1775,  but  he  re- 
mained in  Virginia.  Washington  took  him  into  his  own  family,  and 
made  him  an  aide-de-camp  on  August  15,  1775. 

The  sudden  death  of  his  Uncle  Peyton  compelled  his  return  home, 
and  he  became  a  member  of  the  committee  of  1776,  which  passed 
the  bill  of  rights  and  a  constitution  for  Virginia.  Under  the  new  con- 
stitution he  was  elected  mayor  of  Williamsburg,  and  served  as  attor- 
ney-general of  the  state.  He  was  delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress 
from  1779  to  1782,  and  served  on  the  committee  of  foreign  affairs. 
He  was  a  commissioner  from  Virginia  to  the  Annapolis  Convention, 
and  in  that  body  urged  the  calling  by  Congress  of  a  Constitutional 
Convention.  From  1786  to  1788  he  was  governor  of  Virginia.  In 
1787  he  was  a  leader  in  the  Virginia  delegation  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention,  as  that  body  \vas  first  called,  which  drew  up  the  pres- 
ent Consdtution  of  the  United  States.  Certain  popular  features  of 
that  instrument  as  drafted  he  vigorously  opposed,  particularly,  a 
single  executive — preferring  a  commission — the  vice-presidency,  the 
equality  of  state  representation  in  the  Senate ;  but  having  made  his 
protest  in  the  convention,  he  advocated  at  the  Virginia  Convention  the 
C   124  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

adoption  of  the  Constitution  by  that  state.  In  1788  he  resigned  as  gov- 
ernor to  become  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  that  he  might  take  part 
in  codifying  the  laws  ;  much  of  the  work  a\  as  done  by  him.  The  code 
was  published  in  1794.  He  was  made  Attorney -General  in  the  Cabi- 
net of  President  Washington  on  September  27,  1789.  On  June  2, 
1794,  he  succeeded  Thomas  Jefferson  as  Secretary  of  State.  When 
Mr.  Jay's  treaty  was  imder  consideration  by  the  Cabinet  after  its  rati- 
fication by  the  Senate,  Mr.  Randolph  opposed  vehemently  the  sign- 
ing of  it  by  the  President  unless  the  clause  allowing  right  of  search 
of  neutral  ships  was  revoked.  His  arguments  were  strong,  and  the 
President  promised  to  withhold  his  signature. 

In  the  meantime,  an  intercepted  despatch  of  the  French  Minister, 
M.  Fauchet,  had  been  sent  to  Mr.  Hammond,  the  British  Minis- 
ter. In  it  the  Secretary  of  State  was  spoken  of  in  slighting  terms.  It 
was  declared  that  he  was  purchasable.  The  Minister  at  once  brought 
the  despatch  to  Washington,  who,  without  consultation  with  the  sec- 
retary, signed  the  treaty.  He  then  sent  for  Mr.  Randolph.  It  is  said 
that  this  is  one  of  the  few  occasions  when  Washington  showed  anger, 
although  outwardly  calm.  Without  attempting  any  defence,  or  ex- 
plaining the  hostility  of  M.  Fauchet  to  himself,  Mr.  Randolph  at  once 
resigned.  He  then  A\ent  to  Newport,  where  the  recalled  Minister  was 
waiting  for  a  vessel  to  France,  and  obtained  from  him  a  full  withdrawal 
of  the  charge.  He  occupied  his  time  in  writing  his  "Vindication," 
■which  \\as  published  in  December,  1795.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that 
in  1888,  nearly  a  century  later,  a  despatch  written  by  Fauchet  was 
found  in  Paris,  which  completely  vindicated  the  integrity  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph, and  disproved  the  charge  of  engaging  in  intrigues.  He  returned 
to  Richmond  and  resumed  his  law  practice.  He  was  counsel  for  Aaron 
Burr  when  on  trial  for  conspiracy  and  treason,  in  1807.  A  claim  by 
the  government  for  forty-nine  thousand  dollars  ($49,000)  of  sums 
placed  in  his  hands  to  defray  the  expenses  of  foreign  intercourse,  after 
repeated  trials  and  arbitrations,  was  sustained,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  sell  his  land  and  negroes.  He  died  in  Clark  County,  Virginia,  on 
September  13,  1813. 

Joh7i  Rut/edge. 

John,  a  son  of  Dr.  John  Rutledge,  was  born  at  Charleston,  South 

Carolina,  in  1739.  He  studied  law  at  the  Inner  Temple,  London.  He 

C   125  ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

returned  to  his  native  city  in  1761,  where  he  practised  extensively. 
In  1764  he  was  attornej'-general  of  the  province.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Continental  Congress  from  1774  to  1777,  and  again  from  1782 
to  1783.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pro\incial  Assembly  of  South  Caro- 
lina. He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  that  framed  the  Constitution 
of  1776.  On  March  21,  1776,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Government  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia.  His  mili- 
tary foresight  was  shown  in  his  plans  for  the  fortification  of  Charles- 
ton and  holding  the  post  on  Sullivan  Island  against  the  rumoured  in- 
vasion of  Sir  Henrv  Clinton  and  Commodore  Parker. 

In  March,  1778,  disapproving  changes  made  in  the  state  consti- 
tution, he  resigned.  By  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  legislature,  he  was 
elected  governor  in  1779,  and  served  until  1782.  He  was  in  command 
of  the  militia  which  opposed  General  Augustine  Prevost  in  May, 
1779.  When  Sir  Henry  Clinton  took  Charleston  on  May  12,  1779,  he 
went  to  North  Carolina,  but  used  every  eflbrt  to  relieve  the  city,  and 
aided  General  Gates  and  General  Greene  in  reorganizing  the  army. 
On  May  21,  1784,  he  was  elected  state  chancellor,  and  sat  in  the 
Constitutional  Convention  which  ratified  the  Federal  Constitution.  He 
was  a  delegate  from  South  Carolina  to  the  convention  which  in  1789 
elected  a  president  and  vice-president,  receiving  six  electoral  votes. 

On  September  20,  1789,  he  was  appointed  an  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  He  resigned  in  1791  and 
became  chief  justice  of  South  Carolina.  In  1795  he  was  appointed 
chief  justice  of  the  United  States.  He  presided  at  the  August  session 
of  the  court,  but  the  Senate,  when  his  name  was  presented  on  De- 
cember 15,  1795,  did  not  confirm  him.  In  the  same  month  his  mind 
began  to  fail.  He  died  at  Charleston,  on  July  23,  1800. 


C    126  ] 


ABR.\HAM  SKINNER,  SR. 

ABR,\R.\M  Skixxer  was  a  lawyer  of  high  reputation  in  the  citv 
Sm,  of  Xew  York,  in  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  and  the 
first  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  centuries.  His  home  was  in  Jamaica 
until  1794,  when  he  removed  to  New  York.  He  was  a  \estr\Tnan  of 
Grace  Church,  Jamaica,  and  a  liberal  subscriber  to  the  support  of  the 
parish  and  on  special  occasions,  as  extant  subscription  lists  show.  He 
died  in  New  York  Citv  in  1826. 


[  From  Abr.a.ham  Skixxer,  Sr.  ] 

My  Dear  Hob  art, 

HOW  shall  I  begin  this  sad  Epistle,  I  must, I  must  begin 
it,  and  be  thou  prepared  to  read — My  darling  Bov, 
my  Virtuous  i\bram  is  now  no  more.  The  Church  Yard  con- 
tains his  Body,  and  his  pious  Soul  took  its  flight  with  this 
mornmg's  dawn  to  Regions  of  happiness  and  Peace.  Y'es,  my 
friend,  his  Race  tho'  short  is  run,  and  he  is  gone  I  hope  to 
meet  his  merciful  God. 

O!  sad  lesson,  bitter  cup,  how  shall  I  swallow  it — I  will — 
I  will  bow  submissive  to  him  who  cannot  err,  who  gave  to 
me,  and  who  has  taken  from  me,  blessed  be  his  holy  Name. 
Teach  me,  O  gracious  God,  to  bear  my  affliction,  support 
and  strengthen  me,  and  make  me  sensible  of  my  dependence 
on  thee. 

But  amidst  this  direful  Confussion  and  distress  what  a  Con- 
solation, that  he  had  his  reason  ahnost  to  the  last,  and  even 
in  his  lucid  intervals,  very  shortly  before  his  dissolution  his 
expressions  and  Ejaculations  exhibited  strong  proofs  of  his 
Resignation  to  the  Will  of  heaven  and  a  firm  reliance  on  his 
God  thro'  the  merits  of  a  blessed  Redeemer.  Let  these  things 

C   127  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

my  friend  Comfort  you  and  learn  by  his  fate  to  be  always 
ready,  we  know  not  the  hour.  Be  up  and  doing. 

Your  Letter  of  the  first  of  Septemb':  he  received  on  his  death 
bed  it  was  read  by  him  to  his  Mother,  but  the  hivitation  came 
too  late.  You  have  our  blessings  for  the  Benevolence  it  con- 
tains, and  tho  my  Child  is  dead,  I  know  his  Memory  will 
Survive.  I  know  he  had  a  place  in  Your  heart,  and  I  know  that 
it  will  not  be  efi^aced,  adieu  Hobart,  farewell  my  friend  — 
Remember  my  Abram — Says 

Y^  affli6led  but  real  friend 

Ab':'  Skinner 
not  the  younger,  but  who  was  once  his  father. 

New  York,  6^]"  Sept.  1795  Sunday  morning 

9  o'clock  A.M. 

On  opening  his  Desk  this  morning.  The  first  thing  that  pre- 
sented itself  to  me  was  this  enclosed  Scrap.  I  am  induced  to 
think  it  was  a  part  of  a  Letter  intended  for  you.  Keep  the 
Essay — tis  his  last. 

If  ever  you  come  this  way.  Come  to  me  and  let  me  embrace 
my  dear  Childs  friend. 

He  was  taken  ill  on  Tuesday  night  the  first  day  of  Sept^  and 
died  on  Sunday  morns  at  4  o'Clock,  the  &^  Sept. 

Write  me  Hobart,  It  will  Console  me,  it  will  give  his  Mother 
some  ease. 

Pardon  me  for  not  sending  you  the  Essay  above  Alluded  to, 
his  Mother  Cannot  spare  it  yet.  I  will  however  preserve  it  for 
you. 

Superscription: 

M'!  John  Henry  Hobart,  at  Princeton. 


C    128    ] 


ABR.\HAM  SKINNER,  SR. 

Endorsement  in  Bishop  Hobart^s  handwriting: 

Abraham  Skinner  Esq: 

New  York,  Sepr  6"^  1795. 

Containing  information  of  the  death  o{his  so?i,tny  dearestjriend, 

who  was  first  united  to  me  in  the  bonds  of  a  close  friendship 

in  the  summer  of  1793,  at  Princeton  College. 

I  did  not  receive  this  letter  at  Frankford  till  the  14''^  Sept' 
the  day  I  entered  on  my  ig'*^  year,  melancholy  birthday.  But 
I  had  previously  ( 10'''  inst. )  seen  acco'  of  the  distressing  event 
in  a  newspaper. 

I  write  down  these  circumstances  from  a  wish  to  preserve 
on  a  tablet  more  durable  than  memory  everything  relating  to 
this  melancholy  event. 


L  129  3 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  ] 

Philadelphia  Sep'.  1 6'*' -9  5 

My  Friend 

YOU  will  no  doubt  be  surprised  to  find  that  I  am  here 
without  calling  on  you  at  Princeton  and  perhaps  will  be 
still  more  so  when  I  tell  this  is  the  second  time  I  have  been  in 
Philadelphia  since  I  left  you.  The  business  of  my  Uncle  with 
whom  I  came  was  such  that  we  were  obliged  to  come  a  road 
higher  up  in  the  country  than  the  common  one  &  could  not 
come  to  Princeton. 

Before  I  left  Brunswic  I  sent  my  oration  to  Do(5li  Smith 
which,  I  will  thank  you,  to  get  of  him  &  sent  to  Brunswic 
directing  it  to  My  Sister  Hannah 
Remember  me  to  Forsyth  Pendleton  &  McMullan 
I  am  still 

your  sincere  Friend 

Joseph  Warren  Scott 

Supencription: 

Mr  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 
Single 


ANNOTATIONS 

Hannah  Scott. 

The  reference  is  to  Hannah,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  and 
Anna  (Johnson)  Scott.  She  was  born  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey, 
about  1778.  She  never  married.  Her  father  was  a  physician  of  high 
distinction  in  the  state,  with  a  large  practice.  During  the  Revolution 
he  served  as  surgeon-general  of  the  New  Jersey  forces,  and  director- 
general  of  military  hospitals.  In  1777  he  was  made  by  Congress 
senior  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  hospitals  and  assistant  director- 
general.  He  resumed  his  practice  after  the  war,  and  died  at  New 
Brunswick  in  1821,  in  his  eighty-third  year. 

C  130  J 


JOSEPH  ^\\\RREN  SCOTT 

Robert  Marshal/  Forsyth. 
For  notice  see  page  93. 

Philip  Clayt07i  Pendleto7i. 

Philip  Clayton  Pendleton  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey in  the  class  of  1796.  He  studied  law,  attained  eminence,  and  be- 
came United  States  District  Judge  for  the  District  of  West  Virginia. 
He  died  in  1863. 

French  F.  MacMullen. 

French  F.  MacMullen  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey in  the  class  of  1796.  He  studied  law,  and  practised  at  Dover,  in 
his  native  state  of  Delaw  are. 


c  131 : 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

D^  John, 

THE  board  of  Health  at  a  meeting  last  evening  gave 
permission  to  the  proprietors  of  the  different  stages  to 
send  them  to  N.  Y.  &c  with  passengers.  As  I  knew  you  were 
very  desirous  to  go  to  Princeton,  I  went  early  this  morning  to 
engage  a  seat  for  you ;  but  it  was  so  late  before  it  was  known 
what  the  board  of  Health  had  done,  that  none  of  the  Stages 
were  in  readiness.  I  understand  the  Commencement  is  to  mor- 
row, and  you  are  doubtless  desirous  to  be  at  Princeton  at  that 
time;  I  think  it  would  be  advisable  for  you  to  go  in  the  Stage 
which  leaves  this  city  at  i  o'clock  this  evening.  You  would 
reach  Princeton  by  breakfast  time.  The  road  is  now  very  good, 
and  as  it  would  be  moonlight,  there  can  be  no  danger;  and  you 
can  take  as  many  cloaths  with  you  as  will  keep  you  perfe6lly 
comfortable.  However  should  you  prefer  going  in  the  morn- 
ings Stage  you  can  inform  me  by  Robert.  I  shall  engage  a  seat 
for  you  in  any  of  them  which  you  desire ;  and  if  you  want 
anything  done  in  the  city,  I  shall  chearfuUy  attend  to  it. 

I  shall  expe6t  to  hear  from  you  soon  after  you  get  to  Prince- 
ton; and  as  often  while  you  are  there,  as  your  convenience 
will  admit  of. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  pay  for  your  seat  when 
I  engage  it,  as  it  would  probably  prevent  a  disappointment. 
I  am,  D'.  John, 

Yours, 
Tuesday  morning.  James  Robertson. 

Superscription: 

M".  John  H.  Hobart. 


Endorsement : 

M".  [ames  Robertson,  Sept'.   1795. 


I    132    "] 


ABRAHAM  SKINNER,  SR. 

[  From  Abraham  Skinner,  Sr.  ] 

HOW  much  am  I  obliged  by  your  aft'e6lionate  and  very 
pathetic  Letter.  It  speaks  the  effusions  of  a  benevolent 
Heart,  and  Convinces  me  of  your  friendly  and  afteftionate  par- 
ticipation in  our  real  distress ;  since  the  receipt  of  your  Letter 
which  is  the  only  one  I  have  rec'*.  since  the  death  of  my  dear 
Boy,  we  have  abandoned  our  distressed  Dwelling  &  fled  to 
this  place  where  we  have  found  an  Asylum  from  the  dread- 
ful Contagion  but  not  from  the  Wretchedness  Occasioned  by 
our  sad  Misfortune, No  Hobart,  no  time,  no  Change, can  eradi- 
cate the  remembrance  of  the  sad  Catastrophe.  Yet  why  do  I 
reason  thus,  why  Do  I  complain  Twas  the  Will  of  Heaven, 
'twas  right.  It  was  the  fiat  of  the  Just  Ruler  of  the  Universe 
and  to  his  Will  If  I  do  not  Chearfully  Submit,  I  coolly  and 
Calmly  resign,  and  with  unfeigned  thanks,  Cry  Lord,  thy  Will 
be  done.  He  was  not  mine,  he  was  too  good  for  such  a  World 
and  lived  as  he  died,  prepared  for  Death,  and  fitted  for  a  glori- 
ous immortality.  I  am  as  well  Satisfied  of  this, as  I  wish  to  be, for 
but  a  few  Minutes  before  his  Exit  ( sensible  Calm  &  Serene, ) 
he  gave  me  proofs  of  his  Willingness  to  depart,  and  his  last 
Accents  breathed  a  Submission  to  the  Will  of  heaven.  It  seems 
but  as  of  Yesterday  that  he  departed,  indeed  I  can  hardly  yet 
believe  it  true  that  my  Darling  Boy  is  no  more;  Methinks 
I  now  see  him  in  the  bloom  of  Youth,  Afie6lionate,  Dutiful, 
Striving  to  please.  Conversing  with  his  beloved  Parents  Striv- 
ing to  please  them,  soothing  their  Cares,  advising  his  Sister  & 
his  Brothers,  benevolent  to  the  Domestics,  and  possessing  his 
Wonted  Philanthropy,  Oh!  tis  not  so,  'twas  once,  twill  never 
be  so  again.  The  Confines  of  a  Sick  Room,  and  the  pifture  of 
him  in  his  last  Moments,  is  now  impossible  for  me  to  draw, 
let  me  therefore  postpone  it  till  our  first  Interview  in  NYork, 
C    133   J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

I  will  then  tell  you  more  tlian  I  can  now  W" rite,  I  will  Stray 
with  you  to  his  Grave  and  whilst  we  Drop  the  parental  the 
friendly  Tear  over  his  Tomb,  I  will  my  friend  say  what  I  wish, 
—  May  Heaven  Bless  you  in  Your  pursuits,  in  this  Life  and 
May  God  Almighty  of  his  infinite  Mercy  &  goodness  receive 
you  hereafter,  with  the  JoyfuU  Sound  of  "  Well  done  thou 
"  good  &  faithful  Servant  enter  thou  into  the  Joys  of  thy  Lord. 
Adieu,  I  can  write  no  more 

Ab'^  Skinner 
October  '*'14— 1795 

Superscription: 

M?  John  Henry  Hobart,  at  Princetovvn 


C   134  H 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  Oftober  19.  1795. 

My  dear  John, 

I  HAVE  been  so  much  engaged  in  the  store  for  these  two 
weeks  past  that  I  really  have  not  been  able  to  spare  as 
much  time  as  to  write  to  you.  The  most  of  the  vessels  from 
Europe  with  the  fall  goods  have  arrived  about  the  same  time, 
which  has  kept  me  more  constantly  employed  than  is  usual, 
even  at  this  season  of  the  year.  After  being  busy  in  the  store 
all  day,  and  so  many  things  to  engage  one's  attention,  I  have 
always  felt  very  little  disposed,  even  when  I  had  a  little  time 
to  spare  in  the  evening,  to  employ  it  in  writing  letters.  This 
however,  is  the  first  evening  I  have  been  disengaged  since  the 
goods  arrived.  M'.  S.  &  Robert  and  myself  have  gener-l 
ally  been  in  the  store  generally  untill  the  middle  of  the  night  j 
Fortunately  this  is  not  always  the  case,  or  the  dry  goods  busi- 
ness, tho'  profitable,  would  be  a  very  unpleasant  one.  I  expeft 
in  the  course  of  three  or  four  weeks,  the  hurry  of  the  busi- 
ness will  be  over  when  I  shall  have  more  leisure,  &  shall 
employ  part  of  it  in  writing  to  you. 

I  had  not  heard  before  I  received  your  letter,  of  the  change 
that  has  taken  place  in  your  prospers  at  Princeton.  The  situ- 
ation you  expefted  is  in  some  respefts  desirable,  and  would 
no  doubt  have  been  attended  with  some  advantages.  But  I 
think  you  did  perfe6lly  right  not  to  interfere  with  the  former 
Tutor,  when  you  found  him  inclined  to  continue  in  the  office. 
It  is  some  satisfa6f  ion  however,  that  by  remaining  in  a  private 
capacity,  you  will  be  free  from  that  anxiety  of  mind  you  would 
have  felt  had  you  been  in  the  office,  and  avoid  many  morti- 
fications to  which  you  would  have  been  exposed. 

I  was  much  pleased  to  hear  that  during  the  vacation  you 

C  135  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

were  not  in  the  least  lonesome.  I  imagine  it  is  the  best  time 
for  study  to  those  who  have  a  strong  inclination  for  it;  for 
altho'  when  there  is  much  company  about  the  College  it  may 
be  more  agreeable,  yet  one  is  oftener  interrupted,  and  find 
it  more  difficult  to  fix  his  attention  on  any  pursuit. 

I  hear  from  New  York  frequently — my  Brother,  and  all  M"^ 
Robertsons  family  have  remained  in  the  city,  and  have  enjoyed 
a  good  state  of  health.  The  disorder  has  not  spread  tiirough 
the  city  so  much  nor  has  it  been  so  dangerous,  as  has  been  gen- 
erally believed.  The  greatest  number  of  deaths  have  always 
been  confined  to  those  who  lived  in  small  houses  in  confined 
parts  of  the  city,  &  who  did  not  pay  that  attention  to  clean- 
liness, either  in  their  food  or  houses,  which  ought  to  be  done 
everywhere,  and  especially  in  large  cities.  The  disorder  has 
been  for  some  days  much  the  same,  and  I  expe6l  the  present 
cool  weather  will  soon  put  an  entire  stop  to  it. 

The  Drft  you  sent  on  ]n)l  Ross  for  ?400  was  due  this  day; 
but  will  not  be  paid  untill  thursday ;  as  every  Drft  of  that  na- 
ture, the  acceptor  of  it  has,  what  is  called  three  days  of  grace. 
I  shall  if  possible  send  the  amo'.  by  thursdays  post;  but  should 
I  not  receive  the  money  in  time  for  that  day,  you  may  rely 
on  it,  on  the  following. 

The  bearer  of  this  take  a  small  bundle  from  your  Mama — 
I  shall  expe6l  to  hear  from  you  often,  &  remain  My  dear  John, 

Yours  aftedl'y 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription : 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 
Favoured  by     "1 

M!  Gaston,  j 

annotations 
Former  Tutor. 

The  tutors  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1795  were  Robert  Finlev 
C    136  j 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

and  David  English.  The  allusion  is  to  Robert  Finley,  who  during 
that  year  was  succeeded  b_v  Joseph  Caldwell. 

John  Ross. 

The  reference  is  probably  to  John,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Chap- 
man) Ross.  He  was  born  at  Solebury,  Bucks  Countv,  Pennsylvania, 
on  February  24,  1770.  He  studied  law  with  his  cousin,  Thomas  Ross 
of  Westchester,  and  in  1792  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  served  in 
the  state  legislature  in  1800.  He  \\"as  a  member  of  the  United  States 
Congress  from  1809  to  1811,  and  again  from  1815  to  1818.  In  1818 
he  became  president-judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  District.  In  1831 
he  was  made  a  supreme  court  judge.  In  1795  he  married  Mary  Jen- 
kins, who,  in  1777,  had  presented  the  first  American  flag  to  Wash- 
ington. Mr.  Ross  died  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  on  Januarv  31,  1834. 
There  was  also  a  John  Ross,  a  merchant,  in  business  at  No.  22 
Pine  Street,  Philadelphia. 

William  Gaston. 

William,  a  son  of  Dr.  Alexander  and  Margaret  (Sharpe)  Gaston,  was 
born  at  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  on  September  19,  1778.  His  fa- 
ther, a  native  of  Ireland  and  of  Huguenot  descent,  was  a  graduate  in 
medicine  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  and  became  a  surgeon  in 
the  British  navy.  In  1775  he  resigned  and  emigrated  to  North  Caro- 
lina. He  uas  shot  in  a  most  dastardly  manner  by  a  band  of  Tories 
who  visited  Newbern  in  1781 .  Mrs.  Gaston  was  shielding  her  husband 
from  their  attack  by  standing  in  front  of  him,  and  aiming  high  over 
her  head,  the}'  shot  and  killed  him. 

Their  son  was  brought  up  and  edticated  by  the  mother  until  1791, 
when  he  was  sent  to  the  college  at  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia. 
Ill  health  caused  him  to  return  home  after  eighteen  months.  After 
a  course  at  Newbern  Academy,  he  entered  the  junior  class  of  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey,  and  was  graduated  with  honours  in  1796.  After 
a  course  in  law  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1798.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  state  senate  in  1800.  He  then  served  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, and  became  in  1808  Speaker  of  the  House.  He  was  from  1802 
to  1844  a  trustee  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  and  from  1817 
a  member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  In  1809  he  was 
a  Federalist  presidential  elector.  From  1813  to  1817  he  was  a  repre- 
C    137   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

sentative  in  tlie  United  States  Congress.  From  1818  to  1833  he  was 
frequently  a  state  senator  and  representative.  He  was  elected  in  1833 
justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  In  1835 
he  was  a  member  of  the  state  Constitutional  Con\ention.  So  wide- 
spread was  his  fame  as  a  jurist  that  he  received  from  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  Har\ard  College,  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  the  degree  of  doctor  of  laws. 
He  declined  an  election  as  United  States  Senator,  and  remained  a 
supreme  court  justice  until  his  death  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
on  January  23,  1844. 


[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philad.  Oftober  23.  1795. 

My  dear  John, 

I  Enclose  to  you  four  hundred  Dollars,  being  the  amount  of 
theDrft  you  sent  me  on  John  Ross.  The  notes  are  agreeable 
to  the  mem.  you  sent  except  three  of  1 20.  in  place  of  2  of  ^30. 
It  will  not,  I  suppose,  make  any  difference  to  you.  The  Bank 
U.  S.  do  not  at  present  issue  any  notes  of  ^30,  having  lately  de- 
tedled  some  counterfeits  of  thatsum.  As  they  are  well  executed, 
it  will  be  prudent,  should  you  receive  any, to  be  on  your  guard. 
I  continue  to  be  much  engaged  in  the  store;  and  as  you  have 
a  little  knowledge  of  the  bustle  which  is  usual  at  this  season, 
I  know  that  you  will  excuse  the  shortness  of  this  letter. 
I  am  with  much  affe6lion 
Yours 

James  Robertson. 


2  Notes 1 100 —  $200 

2 50 —  100 

3  —  "  20 —  60 

4  —  "  10 —  40 


■  $400 


Superscription  : 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


JOHN  CONRAD  OTTO 

[  From  John  Conrad  Otto  ] 

Philadelphia  Oftober  25th  1795 

My  dear  Hobart 

I  Received  yours  of  the  16'''  Inst,  and  find  in  it  that  frank- 
ness so  congenial  to  friendship.  From  our  intimacy  and 
the  very  nature  of  a  correspondence,  it  is  presumable  that 
the  greatest  freedom  of  exchange  of  sentiments  will  prevail. 
Formality  has  nothing  to  do  with  a  glow  of  the  heart,  there 
is  no  connexion  between  them.  Impressed  always  with  this 
idea,  my  letters  will  at  least,  have  the  merit  of  containing  the 
effusions  of  the  moment.  My  correspondence  has  always  been 
in  this  situation ;  and  whenever  it  should  become  necessary  to 
put  myself  under  restraint  in  writing,  at  that  moment  I  cease 
to  write.  My  attachments  formed  during  my  collegiate  studies, 
will  certainly  remain  through  life.  A  similarity  of  minds,  man- 
ners, pursuits  &c  so  interwove  my  affe6tions  with  others  as 
to  render  them  fixed.  Yes!  you  may  rest  assured  that  there 
shall  be  the  greatest  freedom  in  intercourse,  and  that  my 
fondness  for  you  still  and  ever  will  remain.  It  is  true,  there  is 
but  little  variety  in  the  scenes  of  a  college  life,  but  a  partiality 
for  that  mode  of  life  and  a  fondness  for  Whig-hall  will  make 
a  relation  of  the  least  change  highly  interesting  and  agree- 
able. A  lapse  of  three  years  has  had  no  influence  in  abating  the 
warmth  of  my  feelings  for  a  place  from  which  I  have  received 
so  much  pleasure,  and  I  will  add  improvement.  Retrospe6l 
affords  too  many  agreeable  and  vivid  scenes  to  render  me  in- 
different. Besides  Princeton  is  the  residence  of  my  brothers 
and  of  some  of  my  most  valued  friends.  Association  is  con- 
stantly placing  me  there,  and  making  one  of  an  happy  circle 
in  conversation,  or  a  zealous  member  of  Whig-hall.  I  refledl 
with  pleasure  upon  what  is  past;  but  it  is  repressed  by  the 

C  139  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

recolle61:ion  that  such  scenes  will  never  be  renewed.  Alas !  We 
shall  never  again  assemble  in  happy  converse  in  our  room. 
White,  Harris,  McRee,  the  Burnetts,  Chetwood,  Maxwell  &c. 
Was  there  ever  a  more  pleasing  society?  I  am  sure  college 
never  knew  so  large  an  one  so  much  attached  to  each  other. 
At  least  during  my  residence  there  nothing  of  the  like  kind 
existed.  There  was  truly  a  generous  emulation  in  our  class, 
entirely  devoid  of  those  little  mean  jealousies  and  bickerings 
that  charadlerized  some  others.  The  distance  of  some  of  our 
friends  should  prompt  the  others  to  increase  the  ties  of  affec- 
tion for  each  other.  There  is  an  heart-felt  satisfaftion  and 
confidence  attending  the  exchange  of  sentiments  with  my  old 
college  friends  that  I  cannot  experience  towards  others.  In 
a  place  like  this,  the  metropolis  of  the  United  States,  a  per- 
son might  reasonably  expe6l  a  sufficiency  of  matter  highly 
interesting,  to  be  able  at  any  time  to  fill  up  a  letter.  There  is 
to  those  who  are  engaged  in  the  great  world  of  business  and 
politics;  but  these  things  seldom  reach  me  who  gently  glides 
down  a  medical  stream.  When  a  great  political  event  happens, 
that  involves  the  happiness  of  Europe  or  my  own  country,  it  is 
impossible  not  to  know  it  and  feel.  As  a  good  republican  and 
citizen  of  the  world  I  become  interested.  If  a  relation  of  such 
events  will  give  you  worldly  sensations  in  your  recluse  situ- 
ation, you  shall  occasionally  have  them.  Your  mind  must  be 
interested  for  the  temporal  welfare  of  mankind,  and  to  know 
their  state  is  the  first  step  to  afford  rational  aid.  I  ought  to  be 
a  politician  to  verify  the  adage  upon  our  profession,  but  I  make 
no  pretentions  to  the  charafter.  Nor  do  I  trouble  myself  any 
further  with  politics  than  having  a  share  in  conversation  when 
they  happen  to  be  the  subjed:  of  it.  In  general  I  am  cool  and 
perhaps  rather  indifferent  considering  I  am  at  that  age  in  which 
the  "passions  \^torn']  perpetual  storm,"  but  there  are  times 

I  140  2 


JOHN  CONR.\D  OTTO 

and  occasions  upon  which  it  is  impossible  to  be  silent  or  cool, 
if  we  have  but  common  feelings,  but  particularly  if  we  have 
the  feelings  of  rational  and  free  men.  Yes  I  consider  there  are 
times  in  which  silence  and  inadlion  shew  want  of  patriotism. 
You  will  please  to  get  White'  diploma  signed,  sealed  &c  and 
by  transmitting  to  me  the  charge,  I  will  reimburse  you.  My 
compliments  to  my  friends,  particularly  to  Jacob  Burnet.  I 
have  had  a  bilious  fever  almost  ever  since  I  left  you. 

Yours 

sincerely 

John.  C.  Otto — 
M"  John  H.  Hob  art  — 

Superscription  : 

M"*  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton 
M'  Guion's^  • . 

Politeness  J 

ANNOTATIONS 

Alexander  White. 

Alexander  White  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1 792,  College  of  New 
Jersey.  Among  the  college  papers  and  essays  preser\ed  in  his  Corre- 
spondence is  the  Latin  Sakitatorv  Oration  delivered  by  Alexander 
White,  at  the  Commencement  at  Nassau  Hall,  1792. 

Harris.  The  Harris  referred  to  may  be  either 

Thomas  R.  Harris. 

Thomas  R.  Harris  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1788,  College  of 

Ne\\"  Jersey.  He  studied  medicine  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Or  Israel  Harris. 

Israel,  a  son  of  Dr.  Harris  of  Pittsgrove,  Salem  County,  New  Jer- 
sey, was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1790.  He 
studied  law  and  practised  in  Somerset  County,  NeA\'  Jersey.  He  died 
young. 

[    141    J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

McRee. 

" McRee' '  cannot  be  identified.  He  probably  took  only  a  partial  course. 
It  is  unlikely  that  he  could  be  James  McRee  of  the  class  of  1775, 
who  entered  the  ministry,  spent  his  life  principally  in  North  Carolina, 
and  died  March  28,  1840. 

Jacob  Burnet. 

For  notice  see  page  21. 

George  JVhiteJield  Burtiet. 
For  notice  see  page  22. 

William  Chetwood. 

William  Chetwood,  of  the  class  of  1792,  was  a  member  of  a  distin- 
guished family  of  Elizabeth  town,  New  Jersey,  closely  connected  with 
the  Daytons  and  Chandlers.  He  \\as  a  jurist  by  profession  and  a  repre- 
sentative in  Congress.  He  died  on  December  18,  1857. 

George  Clifford  Maxwell. 

George  C.  Maxwell  was  graduated  in  1792.  He  studied  law,  and 
was  admitted  attorney  at  the  May  term  in  1797,  and  was  reporter  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  from  1811  to  1813.  He  died  at 
Flemington,  New  Jersey. 

White's  Diploma. 

This  refers  to  Alexander  White,  who  is  noticed  on  page  141. 

Isaac  Lee  Giiion. 

Isaac  Lee  Guion  ^vas  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 

1796. 


C    142   ] 


JOHN  JOHNSON  SAYRS 

[  From  John  Johnson  Sayrs  J 

New-Ark  November  7'!;  1795. 

Sir, 

AS  a  Good  opportunity  offers  I  could  not  without  being 
JTjL  Guilty  of  Great  negleft  omit  writing  a  few  lines  in 
answer  to  your  long  &  friendly  letter.  To  apologize  for  my 
past  negle6l  &  present  brevity  I  conceive  needless.  I  have 
passed  my  examination  before  the  Standing  Committee  &  ob- 
tained a  testimonial.  In  conversation  you  frequently  testified 
your  disapprobation  of  the  method  of  preaching  made  use  of 
by  our  Clergy  &  you  have  again  mentioned  it  in  your  letter. 
I  disapprove  also  of  too  much  of  it,  but  I  think  that  when  Sin- 
ners are  awakened  from  a  view  of  their  ingratitude  &  the 
mercy  &  long  suffering  of  God,  their  repentance  is  more  Gen- 
uine than  that  which  arises  merely  from  a  contemplation  of 
his  Justice  &  power  &  a  fear  of  future  misery.  Indeed  the  Last 
cannot  be  termed  Genuine.  The  Service  that  is  the  efl^e6l  of 
a  slavish  fear  cannot  be  called  reasonable.  Repentance  does 
not  solely  consist  in  Sorrow  for  Sin,  nor  Confession  of  it;  But  it 
imports  a  change  of  Manners,  with  a  firm  pursuasion  that  our 
sincere  endeavours  in  future  will  be  kindly  received,  &  our 
former  Sins  pardoned.  The  man  who  forsakes  Sin,  not  because 
it  is  offensive  to  this  Creator,  &  detestable  in  itself,  but  because 
it  will  eventually  lead  him  to  misery,  cannot  be  said  to  have 
that  Godly  sorrow,  which  worketh  repentance  unto  Salvation. 
The  sorrow  of  Judas  was  of  this  kind.  He  found  that  matters 
had  grown  so  desperate  that  there  was  no  probable  appearance 
of  Christs'  escaping  the  malice  of  the  Jews ;  perhaps  also  he 
recolledled  the  predictions  of  the  Lord,  concerning  the  man 
who  should  betray  him.  These  &  probably  other  reflexions 
working  together  with  that  Confusion  which  Fear  &  Guilt 

C  143  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

usually  create,  composed  what  is  termed  his  repentance.  It 
resulted  from  a  principle  of  self-preservation,  without  sense 
of  the  Villainy  of  the  A61:.  These  are  the  reasons  why  I  dislike 
that  enthusiastic  manner  of  preacher  altogether  used  by  that 
illiterate  se6l  called  Methodists.  Mankind  in  General  will  not 
be  driven;  but  are  more  fond  of  pursuasion,  &  you  can  easily 
Judge  whether  the  attribute  of  Justice  or  mercy  in  the  Deity  is 
most  agreeable  to  us.  Both  are  necessary  &  Love  &  fear  ought 
to  be  Joined  together.  Fear  says  M"".  Walker  is  necessary  to 
keep  God  in  the  eye;  it  is  the  office  of  Love  to  enthrone  him  in 
the  heart.  Fear  avoids  what  may  offend;  love  yields  a  prompt 
&  liberal  service.  Fear  regards  God  as  a  witness  &  a  Judge  love 
cleaves  to  him  as  a  father.  Fear  makes  us  watchful  &  Circum- 
spe6l,love  renders  us  a<5live  and  resolute.  Lovekeeps  fear  from 
being  servile  and  Distrustful ;  &  fear  keeps  Love  from  being 
forward  &  secure.  Whether  Do  you  suppose  the  Do6lrine  of 
Predestination,  or  universal  salvation  has  been  most  hurtful. 
The  one  has  a  tendency  to  drive  men  to  despair,  &  to  raise  in 
their  minds  frightful  ideas  concerning  the  Almighty ;  the  others 
to  lull  them  into  security  &  by  making  them  rely  too  much 
upon  his  Goodness,  to  negledl  to  perfeft  holiness  in  his  fear. 
If  a  person  beleives  either  &  in  consequence  of  that  belief  leads 
a  Vicious  Life;  it  is  evident  that  he  is  not  influenced  by  Love 
but  fear.  If  he  beleives  the  former  dodlrine  he  thinks  that  the 
Decree  is  fixed,  &  he  cannot  reverse  it;  &  that  he  shall  be 
either  happy  or  miserable  as  it  is  determined  by  that.  But  if 
it  is  the  Latter,  they  think  that  the  punishment  will  be  pro- 
portioned to  the  Crime  &  that  it  will  not  be  eternal  &  they  will 
rather  suffer  it  than  be  deprived  of  their  pleasures  here.  I  be- 
leive  that  the  punishment  will  be  proportioned  to  the  Crime; 
but  that  it  will  be  eternal  also.  The  infinite  majesty  of  an 
offended  God  adds  I  think  an  infinite  evil  to  sin,  &  therefore 
C   144   D 


JOHN  JOHNSON  SAYRS 

exposes  the  sinner  to  infinite  punishment,  but  as  the  limited 
nature  of  the  creature  can  only  bear  a  finite  Degree  of  misery, 
the  Duration  must  be  infinite,  &  the  Creature  he  ever  paying 
a  Debt  which  he  will  never  Discharge.  I  could  say  much  more 
but  am  afraid  that  your  Patience  is  already  exhausted.  I  shall 
conclude  by  requesting  you  to  write  soon  &  not  to  be  as  dila- 
tory as  I  have  been.  Compliments  to  M^  Forsyth  &  all  other 
acquaintances. 

Your  sincere  friend 

John  J.  Sayrs 

No  superscription. 

Endorsement  in  Hobari's  hand: 
John  J.  Sayrs,  1795. 


ANNOTATION 

John  Walker. 

John  Walker,  a  native  of  Devonshire,  graduated  from  Exeter  College, 
Oxford,  in  1699.  He  became  rector  of  St.  Mary  the  More,  Exeter. 
He  died  about  1730.  His  most  famous  work  is  an  account  of  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  clergy  who  were  sequestered  in  the  Grand  Rebellion. 
It  was  called  forth  by  Calamy's  abridgement  of  the  Life  of  Mr.  Bax- 
ter, in  which  is  the  "particular  account  of  the  Clergy  ejected  by  the 
Act  of  Uniformity."  Neal  wrote  his  "History  of  the  Puritans"  in 
answer  to  it.  Dr.  Calamy  also  published  a  Reply. 


[  145  3 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Joseph  Warren  Scott  ] 

New-Brunswic  Sunday  morning 

Dear  Friend 

MR.  William  Phillips  the  bearer  informing  me  that  he 
intended  to  go  to  college  this  fall  for  the  sophomore 
class  &  at  the  same  time  requesting  some  kind  of  an  introduc- 
tion to  some  of  the  most  respe6lable  in  college,  I  thought  no 
one  so  proper  as  yourself  to  write  to  on  such  an  occasion. 

You  will  find  him  a  person  of  considerable  infonnation,  but 
rather  diffident  of  himself;  he  is  of  an  amiable  disposition  but 
I  fear,  unless  he  has  a  friendly  monitor  &  is  introduced  into 
good  company,  that  he  may  be  drawn  away  by  the  force 
of  bad  example.  If  you  will  find  him  a  room  mate,  I  mean 
a  good  one,  you  will  do  a  good  office  to  one  who  is  much 
indebted  to  you  &  is  your  sincere  friend 

J  Warren  Scott 

N  B.  Shew  this  letter  to  Forsyth, tell  him  that  I  very  often  think 
of  him,  of  the  happy  hours  we  have  spent  together  &  in  vain 
wish  them  to  return.  I  am  here  surrounded  by  a  great  deal 
of  company  but  hardly  feel  a  disposition  to  go  into  any  except 
it  be  when  some  friend  comes  here. 

I  shall  once  more  lay  claim  to  your  correspondence  though 
I  see  you  have  entirely  forgotten  me,  but  Hobart  whatever 
has  been  my  condu6l,  whatever  my  appearance,  be  assured, 
I  never  have  suffered  a  diminution  of  that  affe6lion  which  you 
know  I  once  cherished  for  you. 

Tell  Forsyth  to  write  me.  Adieu 

J.  W.  Scott 

Superscription: 

M^  John  Henry  Hobart,  At  the  College,  Princeton 


JOSEPH  WARREN  SCOTT 

Mr  Phillips 

If  M"^  Hobart  be  not  at  P.  M'  Rob.  M.  Forsyth  is  requested 
to  take  this  &  open  it.  j.  w.  s. 

Endorsement: 

M?  Jos^  W.  Scott,  Bnmswic,  Nov'.  1795. 


ANNOTATION 

William  Phillips. 

Mr.  Phillips  evidenth'  did  not  carry  out  his  intention,  or  pursued  only 
a  partial  course.  His  name  is  not  among  the  alumni  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey. 


I   147  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 
[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philad.  Deem.   1st.  1795 

Dear  John 

I  MUST  once  more  beg  that  you  will  excuse  me  for  the 
shortness  of  this  letter  after  my  long  silence.  I  did  not 
receive  your  letter  of  the  21  Ult°  untill  yesterday  enclosing 
1 100  N'f  and  as  I  am  desirous  you  should  have  the  small 
Notes  for  it  as  soon  as  possible,  I  shall  send  them  by  this  days 
mail,  which  will  close  very  soon. 

Your  kind  enquiry  after  my  situation  as  it  is  anotlier  instance 
among  many  of  your  friendship  for  me,  gives  me  sincere  plea- 
sure; and  I  regret  that  I  did  not  inform  you  sooner,  what  I 
am  persuaded  will  be  pleasing  to  you,  that  I  am  to  continue 
in  M'  Smith's  family.  M^  S.  mentioned  that  the  only  objec- 
tion to  my  staying  was  the  washing  of  my  cloths  etc.  by  giv- 
ing so  much  more  labour  to  the  servants;  and  that  as  I  could 
get  that  done  out  of  the  house,  it  was  perfe6lly  agreeable  that 

1  should  stay.  This  I  chearfully  agreed  to. 

There  is  not  so  much  business  doing  now,  as  for  these  two 
months  past,  altho',  I  shall  never  be  without  some  employ- 
ment, yet  as  I  shall  not  always  be  engaged  in  the  evening,  I 
shall  write  occassionally  to  you,  and  must  conclude  at  present 
by  assuring  you  that  I  expe6l  to  have  the  pleasure  of  doing 
it  very  soon  again. 

I  am,  D:  John  Affe6ly  Yours 

James  Robertson. 

2  Notes  |20  — $40 
6  do. —     10. —  60 

$100 

[  148 : 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

M'  Randolph's  vindication  is  not  yet  published;  when  it  is, 
I  shall  send  it  to  you. 

Superscription  : 

M?  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATION 

Randolph's  Findication. 

For  note  on  Edmund  Randolph  and  his  "Vindication,"  seepage 

124. 


C   149  D 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  John  Conrad  Otto  ] 

Philadelphia  Jany  17th  1796 

My  dear  Hobart, 

SINCE  you  were  here  there  has  not  been  one  new  occur- 
rence in  my  life  of  any  importance.  As  my  sphere  of  a6lion 
is  very  limited,  each  day  is  a  pidlure  of  the  next.  Politics  have 
so  little  relation  with  my  present  pursuits  that  I  almost  entirely 
negle6l  them,  except  in  that  degree,  in  which  my  being  a  citi- 
zen of  the  world  would  induce  me  to  pay  some  regard  to  its 
present  and  future  state.  But  the  papers  are  so  barren  of  for- 
eign intelligence,  that  however  strong  my  disposition  should 
be  to  give  you  information,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to 
comply.  Some  person,  I  think  it  is  the  spe6lator,  mentions  that 
no  news  is  the  best  of  news ;  for  what  is  generally  denomi- 
nated so  is  nothing  but  a  series  of  calamities  and  evidences  of 
human  depravity.  An  account  of  universal  peace  in  Europe 
would  be  new  and  grateful,  and  should  it  take  place  you  shall 
be  informed  of  it  as  soon  as  possible.  The  general  condu6t  of 
mankind  almost  induces  the  idea  that  war  is  the  natural  state 
of  man.  It  was  not  so  in  the  beginning,  for  all  was  peace  and 
harmony;  and  I  still  hope  to  see  the  time  when  the  disposi- 
tions of  mankind  will  be  as  strong  for  peace  as  they  at  present 
are  for  war.  Well-regulated  republics  are  said  to  be  favour- 
able to  the  cultivation  of  peace,  and  should  this  assertion  be 
true,  it  requires  no  other  evidence  to  me  of  the  superiority  of 
this  species  of  government;  for  I  consider  war  as  one  of  the 
greatest  of  human  evils.  The  true  religion  is  certainly  more 
conducive  to  the  present  happiness  and  harmony  of  society 
than  any  other.  And  D'  Rush,  in  speaking  of  the  influence  of 
different  kinds  of  government  upon  the  health  and  longevity 
of  people,  gives  the  preference  to  ours.  Its  genius  puts  in  ac- 

C  150  ] 


JOHN  CONR.\D  OTTO 

tion  all  the  noble  faculties  of  the  mind,  and  tends  to  that  equal- 
ity of  fortune  that  prevents  disease.  The  delicacy  of  feelings, 
that  attends  merit,  is  not  injured  and  the  body  thrown  into  dis- 
ease mydisappointment;  nor  it  thatgreat  dissipations  produced 
that  is  so  distruftive  to  health.  Addison  discovered  among  the 
plates  at  a  feast,  indigestion.  Apoplexy,  dropsy  &c,  and  our 
profession  judges  of  the  propriety  and  intrinsic  merit  of  thing 
merely  by  its  influence  upon  health,  and  you  I  suppose  upon 
morals.  There  is  a  greater  connexion  between  these  than  is 
generally  imagined;  and  although  our  criteria  are  apparently 
different  they  are  ultimately  the  same.  You  see  that  I  must 
and  will  introduce  egotism  in  my  letters — for  my  part  I  know 
not  how  to  fill  one  up  without  it.  Tell  our  political  brother 
George  Burnett  that  an  answer  has  been  written  to  Ml^  Ran- 
dolph's pamphlet  under  the  signature  of  Peter  Porcupine.  I 
have  not  read  it.  My  dear  Hobart  I  wish  to  trouble  you  fur- 
ther with  regard  to  my  brother  Dan.  It  appears  that  he  has  an 
aversion  to  study  Greek.  I  have  written  to  him  often  upon 
the  subjeft  and  gave  him  my  reasons  for  his  continuing  it 
— please  to  enforce  them  by  some  of  yours.  He  is  constantly 
raising  new  obje6lions  that  take  time  to  obviate,  during  which 
he  is  in  a  state  of  suspence  and  indolence.  My  compliments 
to  my  friends. 

Your  sincere 

friend 

John  C.  Otto 
Mr  John  H.  Hobart 

Superscription : 

Mr  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 
Mr  Neilson's"! 

Politeness    f 


C   151    : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATIONS 

Benjamin  Rush. 

For  sketch  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush  see  page  234. 

Joseph  Addison . 

Joseph  Addison  was  born  May  1,  1672.  The  first  part  of  his  career 
was  devoted  to  politics,  in  which  he  played  an  important  part,  but 
his  fame  will  always  rest  on  the  excellence  of  his  literary  work.  His 
papers  in  ' '  The  Spectator ' '  are  models  of  English  prose.  He  died  June 
17,  1719. 

George  JVhitefield  Burnet. 
For  notice  see  page  22. 

Peter  Porcupine  (William  Cobbett). 
For  sketch  see  page  157. 

Daniel  Otto. 

Daniel,  the  brother  of  John  Conrad  Otto,  is  not  among  the  list  of  the 

alumni  of  Princeton,  and,  therefore,  did  not  graduate. 

John  Neilson. 

John  Neilson,  a  native  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1793.  He  studied  medicine, 
and  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  was  for  more  than 
fifty  years  a  physician  of  the  highest  reputation.  He  died  in  1857. 


C   152   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  Jan)'   21.   1796. 

Dear  John, 

IT  seems  but  a  very  short  time  since  I  left  you  at  Prince- 
ton, tiio'  if  we  calculate  it  is  really  not  so.  When  a  person 
is  engaged  in  his  customary  employment,  time  passes  away 
unnoticed;  and  with  little  remembrance  of  what  has  been 
done.  This  has  been  the  case  with  myself.  It  was  my  intention 
to  have  written  to  you  as  soon  as  I  returned,  and  send  you  the 
pamphlets  you  desired.  But  one  delay  always  makes  way  for 
another.  A  disposition  to  procrastinate  seems  common  to  our 
nature,  and  I  must  acknowledge  I  have  my  share  of  it.  Some 
occupations  however,  I  think,  have  a  greater  tendency  to  en- 
courage it  than  others,  and  none  more  so  than  ours,  except 
in  the  usual  routine  of  the  business.  There  are  so  many  things 
to  engage  a  person's  attention  even  when  he  is  not  a6lively 
employed,  that  matters  of  a  secondary  concern  are  too  much 
overlooked.  The  writing  to  you,  my  dear  John,  will  not  from 
inclination,  be  so  with  me. 

In  my  present  situation,  my  prospers  of  worldly  prosperity, 
under  the  smiles  of  providence,  are  flattering;  but  were  I  to 
consult  my  inclinations  only,  I  would  chearfuUy  relinquish  my 
prospers  to  pass  a  few  years  with  you  at  Princeton.  Such  a 
way  of  life  would  be  more  congenial  to  my  disposition,  than 
the  bustle,  anxiety,  and  cares,  which  are  unavoidable  in  our 
business.  I  am,  however  sensible  that  I  ought  not  to  indulge 
such  thoughts;  for,  situated  as  I  am  they  cannot  be  realized.  It 
is  too  natural  for  us  to  be  dissatisfied  with  our  present  condi- 
tion, without  considering  that  every  situation  or  calling  in  this 
world  has  its  troubles  and  anxieties  either  real  or  imaginary : 
and  it  becomes  us,  to  acquiesce  in  that  situation  which  we  have 

C  153  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

chosen  for  ourselves,  or  concurring  circumstances  have  placed 
us  in. 

I  have  understood  that  you  have  at  last  accepted  the  office 
which  had  frequently  before  been  offered  to  you.  It  will  I  doubt 
not,  be  attended  with  some  trouble  and  anxiety;  but  I  expe6l 
they  will  be  overbalanced  by  the  advantages  which  you  will 
derive  from  it.  Any  expe6lation  you  might  have  had,  of  ac- 
cepting the  offer  of  D^  White,  is  I  suppose  entirely  given  up; 
and  I  have  no  doubt  but  what  you  have  done  wdll  be  more 
advantageous  for  you. 

I  shall  send  this  letter  by  the  post  to  infomi  you  that  I  sent 
a  small  bundle  for  you,  by  a  M^  Currie,  who  was  to  set  off 
from  the  hidian  Queen  this  morning.  I  desired  him  to  leave 
it  at  the  tavern.  It  contains  two  pamphlets  you  wanted;  and 
another  of  P.  Porcupines,  written  with  the  same  ingenuity  and 
humour  as  his  former  publications.  He  puts  a  constru6lion  on 
M'.  R.  pamphlet  which  it  will  bear,  and  which  it  will  be  diffi- 
cult to  answer.  I  have  also  sent  you  a  treatise  on  Eloquence 
written  by  the  Abbe  Maury.  It  is  a  subjedt  with  which  I  am 
not  much  acquainted,  and  of  course  can  give  no  opinion  of 
the  book  from  my  own  judgement.  I  was  induced  to  send  it 
to  you  from  the  high  opinion  I  have  of  its  author,  who  was 
acknowledged  to  be  the  most  elequent  man  in  France.  While 
the  French  National  Convention  condu6led  themselves  with 
moderation,  his  influence  there  was  great, — and  when  mat- 
ters were  coming  to  crisis,  he  was  considered  as  the  chief 
support  of  the  Party  who  favoured  a  limited  Monarchy. 
To  great  talents  he  added  an  unblemished  charafter  which 
few  of  the  higher  orders  of  the  French  Clergy  at  that  time 
sustained. 

There  are  no  news  here  at  present.  Congress  have  as  yet 

engaged  of  no  matters  of  much  importance.  I  shall  expe61  to 

C    154  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

hear  from  you  soon;  and  am  with  much  affeftion,  my  dear 
John,  Yours, 

James  Robertson 

Superscription: 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

Office  accepted  by  Mr.  Hobart. 

The  allusion  is  to  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Hobart  as  a  tutor  in  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  in  the  place  of  David  English,  who  had  ac- 
cepted the  charge  of  the  seminary  at  Basking  Ridge,  New  Jerse}\ 

Bishop  White's  Offer. 

Bishop  White's  offer  is  not  anywhere  stated  explicitlv.  It  is  under- 
stood to  have  been  his  suggestion  that  Mr.  Hobart  study  divinity  with 
him,  and  then  be  made  an  assistant  in  the  united  parishes  of  Christ 
and  St.  Peter's  Churches. 

Bishop  White. 

William,  a  son  of  Colonel  Thomas  and  Esther  (Hewlings)  White,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia  on  March  26,  1748.  He  was  educated  in  the  Pre- 
parator}-  School  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia  from  his  seventh  year, 
under  Ebenezer  Kinnersley,  a  teacher  of  most  remarkable  excellence. 
Mr.  Kinnersley's  researches  in  electricity  were  invaluable,  and  led  to 
Franklin's  experiments,  which,  it  is  said,  were  suggested  by  him.  The 
lad  entered  the  grammar  school  under  Paul  Jackson  at  the  age  of  ten, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  college  in  1765,  in  his  eighteenth  year. 
As  he  determined  to  studv for  the  holy  ministry,  he \\ent  to  England 
in  1770,  visiting  among  his  father's  relatives,  but  having  lodgings 
of  his  own  in  London.  He  made  several  excursions  in  various  parts 
of  England,  and  spent  some  time  in  Cambridge  and  Oxford.  He  was 
made  deacon  by  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  Dr.  Philip  Young,  acting  for 
the  Bishop  of  London,  on  December  23,  1770,  in  the  Chapel  Royal, 
St.  James  Palace,  Westminster.  He  was  ordained  priest  in  the  Chapel 
of  Fulham  Palace  on  April  25,  1772,  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Terrick. 

C    ^55  H 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

He  sailed  for  home  in  June,  and  with  the  Rev.  Thomas  Coombe 
became  an  assistant  minister  of  the  united  churches  of  Christ  and 
St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia,  then  under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pe- 
ters. He  was  a  firm  upholder  of  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  and  on  the 
Sunday  immediately  preceding  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  he 
ceased  to  prav  for  the  King  and  Royal  Family. 

In  September,  1777,  he  went  with  his  family  to  the  home  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Aquila  Hall,  Harford  County,  Maryland,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  elected  chaplain  of  Congress,  which,  on  the 
threatened  occupation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British,  had  temporarily 
adjourned  to  meet  again  in  Yorktown. 

Mr.  White  accepted  the  duty  thus  laid  on  him,  and  continued  to 
serve  alternately  with  the  other  chaplain,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duffield  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  until  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  in  June, 
1778.  He  served  as  chaplain  by  successive  elections  until  the  removal 
of  the  seat  of  government  to  Washington  in  1801. 

Upon  April  15,  1779,  he  was  elected  rector  of  the  united  parishes, 
and  continued  in  that  office  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  measures  taken  under  his  guidance  for  the  organization  of  the 
Church  in  Pennsylvania  and  throughout  the  middle  and  southern 
states,  from  the  issue  of  his  famous  pamphlet  on  "The  Case  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  Considered,"  in  1782,  to  the  final  consummation 
in  the  election  and  consecration  of  Dr.  Provoost  and  himself  in  Lam- 
beth Palace  Chapel  on  February  4,  1787,  need,  in  this  brief  sketch, 
only  be  alluded  to.  He  was  a  careful,  patient,  politic,  and  wise  leader. 
To  him  and  to  Dr.  Smith,  the  provost,  is  largely  due  the  perma- 
nent union  of  the  Church  in  1789. 

His  conduct  of  the  diocese,  his  association  in  the  larger  affairs  of 
the  whole  Church,  is  beyond  all  praise.  The  mild  dignity  and  gentle- 
ness of  this  patriarch  of  the  American  Church  can  never  be  forgotten. 

He  died  in  Philadelphia  on  July  17,  1836,  in  the  eighty-ninth  year 
of  his  age,  and  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  Christ  Church.  On 
December  23,  1870,  in  the  presence  of  several  of  his  descendants,  his 
body  was  removed  and  was  buried  beneath  the  chancel  of  Christ 
Church. 

"A  Mr.  Currie." 

His  identity  cannot  be  positively  ascertained.  There  were  then  living 

C   ^56  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

in  Philadelphia:  Dr.  William  Currie,  who  was  a  well-known  physi- 
cian, living  at  No.  39  Pine  Street;  Thomas  Currie,  who  was  a  sea 
captain.  His  home  was  at  No.  1  North  Front  Street ;  Ai-chibald  Currv, 
who  was  an  inn-keeper  on  Vine  Street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth 
Streets  ;  and  Samuel  Curry,  a  shoemaker,  living  in  W'agoner's  Alley. 

The  hidimi  Queen. 

The  Indian  Queen  was  one  of  the  ancient  taverns  of  Philadelphia. 
It  stood  on  South  Fourth  Street,  above  Chestnut,  and  had  for  its  sign, 
in  the  days  when  signs  were  universal,  the  figure  of  an  Indian  woman 
of  great  dignity.  It  was  at  this  time  kept  by  a  Mr.  Francis.  Manv" 
people  of  distinction  in  the  city,  and  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
were  its  patrons.  For  some  years  Thomas  Jefferson  had  a  room  in 
the  south  end  of  the  building.  It  has  been  said  that  here  that  states- 
man wrote  the  draft  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  but  the 
careful  annalist  of  Philadelphia,  John  F.  Watson,  having  made  an 
investigation,  finds  that  Mr.  Jefferson  was  then  living  in  a  new  house 
belonging  to  the  Hiltzheimer  family,  in  Market  Street. 

William  Cobbett. 

William  Cobbett,  grandson  of  a  farm  labourer,  and  son  of  a  small 
farmer,  was  born  nearFarnham,  Surrey,  England,  on  March  9,  1766. 
As  a  boy  he  worked  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  at  sixteen  offered 
to  enlist  as  a  sailor  in  the  navy  at  Portsmouth.  In  May,  1783,  when 
seventeen,  and  on  his  way  to  Guilford  Fair,  he  met  the  London 
coach,  and  suddenly  resolved  to  go  to  that  city.  It  is  said  that  he 
arrived  at  Ludgate  Hill  with  half  a  crown  in  his  pocket.  The  kind- 
ness of  an  old  gentleman  whom  he  met  in  the  coach,  who  took  him 
to  his  own  house  and  found  employment  for  the  young  man  as  copy- 
ing clerk  in  an  attorney's  office,  was  never  forgotten  by  Mr.  Cobbett. 
The  work  was  very  distasteful,  and  early  in  1784  he  went  to  Chat- 
ham, with  the  design  of  enlisting  in  the  marines,  but  through  a 
mistake  joined  a  regiment  of  the  line. 

While  in  garrison  at  Chatham,  he  read  the  books  of  a  circulat- 
ing library,  and  committed  to  memory  Lowth's  English  Grammar. 
A\'hen  the  regiment,  in  the  following  year,  was  ordered  to  St.  John, 
New  Brunswick,  his  good  conduct,  correct  method  of  speech,  and 
attention  to  duty  earned  for  him  a  oromotion  to  the  office  of  corporal. 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

While  in  New  Brunswick  he  studied  rhetoric,  geometry,  logic,  and 
the  theory  of  fortification. 

In  1791  he  returned  to  England  with  the  regiment,  and  received  an 
honourable  discharge,  expressed  in  highly  laudatory  terms.  About 
this  time  he  married  the  daughter  of  a  sergeant-major,  who  was  in 
every  way  fitted  to  be  his  wife. 

In  February,  1792,  he  went  to  France,  and  remained  for  six  months, 
when  he  sailed  for  Philadelphia.  Here  he  at  once  became  a  satirical 
pamphleteer,  attacking  Dr.  Priestley,  Thomas  Paine,  and  the  extreme 
sympathizers  with  France,  the  Democratic  societies,  under  the  name  of 
Peter  Porcupine.  His  style  was  brilliant,  satirical,  caustic.  His  paper, 
known  as  "Peter  Porcupine's  Gazette,"  at  once  attracted  notice,  and 
had  a  large  circulation.  He  paid  special  attention  to  subjects  of  con- 
troversy. He  delighted  in  arousing  the  ire  of  the  Democrats  and  dis- 
playing his  loyalty  to  his  native  land.  His  paper  did  efficient  service 
for  the  Federalists,  but  he  felt  himself  as  free  to  criticise  them  as  their 
opponents.  He  eked  out  his  living  by  teaching  English  to  the  French 
refugees.  Among  his  pupils  at  one  time  was  Prince  Talleyrand. 

For  a  gross  attack  upon  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  he  was  sued  for  libel. 
Finally  he  excited  so  much  animosity  that  he  returned  to  England  in 
1802.  He  was  warmly  welcomed  by  the  Tories.  He  established  himself 
in  London,  and  issued  "Peter  Porcupine's  Gazette"  with  the  same 
characteristics  as  it  had  in  America.  Within  a  short  time  the  name 
was  changed  to  "The  Weekly  Political  Register."  In  1806  he  origi- 
nated that  standard  record,  "Debates  in  Parliament."  His  "Regis- 
ter," at  first  a  Tory  paper,  in  1804  led  an  opposition  to  the  go\ern- 
ment,  and  finally  became  the  most  radical  paper  in  England. 

In  1817  he  was  induced  by  money  troubles  to  return  to  America.  He 
bought  a  farm  near  New  York,  which  he  cultivated  profitably,  for  he 
was  a  real  lover  of  nature  and  an  excellent  farmer.  In  1819,  when  he 
returned  to  England,  he  emphasized  his  opinions  by  a  curious  act,  the 
removal  to  England  of  the  body  of  Thomas  Paine,  author  of  ' '  The 
Age  of  Reason,"  and  "Common  Sense."  The  incident  is  well  told  by 
that  delightful  writer  on  persons  and  places  in  old  New  York,  an  emi- 
nent physician,  Dr.  John  W.  Francis:  "A  singular  coincidence  led 
me  to  pay  a  visit  to  Cobbett,  at  his  country  seat,  within  a  couple  of 
miles  of  the  city,  on  the  island,  on  the  very  day  that  he  had  exhumed 
the  bones  of  Paine,  and  shipped  them  for  England.  I  will  here  repeat 
[    158   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

the  words  I  used  on  a  late  occasion,  and  which  Cobbett  ga\  e  utter- 
ance to  at  the  friendly  interview  our  party  had  with  him.  '  I  have  just 
performed  a  duty,  gentlemen,  which  has  been  too  long  delayed :  you 
have  neglected  too  long  the  remains  of  Thomas  Paine.  I  have  done 
myself  the  honor  to  disinter  his  bones.  I  have  removed  them  from  New 
Rochelle.  I  have  dug  them  up  ;  they  are  nou'  on  their  way  to  England. 
When  I  myself  return,  I  shall  cause  them  to  speak  the  common  sense 
of  the  great  man  ;  I  shall  gather  together  the  people  of  Liverpool  and 
Manchester  in  one  assembly  with  those  of  London,  and  those  bones 
will  effect  the  reformation  of  England  in  Church  and  State.'  " 

He  continued  to  work,  write,  and  propound  his  ideas  upon  his- 
tory, morals,  and  politics,  both  in  volumes,  and  in  the  columns  of  his 
paper.  In  1831  he  was  returned  to  Parliament  for  Oldham.  This 
was  the  first  Parliament  under  the  Reform  Bill.  His  career  there  was 
uneventful,  except  for  his  bitter  attack  upon  Sir  Robert  Peel. 

He  died  at  Normanby  Farm,  near  Guilford,  on  June  18,  1835. 
Opinions  as  to  him  differ  widely.  All  agree  that  he  was  a  man  who 
had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  that  he  sincerely  held  at  various 
times  views  which  conflicted  with  those  afterward  maintained.  That 
he  was  coarse  and  virulent  seems  to  be  acknowledged.  That  his  books, 
which  extended  to  more  than  fifty  volumes,  written  in  strong  and  for- 
cible English,  had  a  great  influence  tipon  his  own  generation  must 
be  admitted.  Among  them  are: 

Porcupine's  Works,  in  twelve  volumes,  1801 

English  Grammar,  1818 

History  of  the  Reformation,  1824-1827 

Woodlands,  1825 

Advice  to  Young  Men,  1830 

Rural  Rides 

Abbe  Maury. 

Jean  Siflfrein  Maury  was  born  at  Valreas  in  the  Department  of  Vau- 
cluse,  France,  on  June  26,  1746.  He  was  liberally  educated.  He  com- 
pleted his  course  at  Avignon  and  then  went  to  Paris.  He  entered 
the  priesthood,  and  soon  gained  the  attention  of  the  capital  by  his 
brilliance  and  eloquence.  His  eulogies  upon  the  Dauphin,  Charles  V 
of  France,  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  St.  Louis,  and  other  national  heroes 
were  rewarded  by  his  appointment  as  Abbe  of  Frisade.  In  1786  he 
C   159  ^ 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

was  made  prior  of  Lihonen  Santerre.  He  was  sent  by  the  neighbour- 
ing clergy  as  their  representative  to  the  States-General  in  1789.  Here 
he  found  his  true  place,  for  he  was  bold,  vehement,  and  resourceful. 
He  was  a  debater  of  great  skill  and  logical  power.  His  presence  was 
imposing,  his  voice  full,  deep,  and  flexible.  He  was,  with  the  possible 
exception  of  Mirabeau,  the  greatest  orator  in  that  assemblage  of  not- 
ables. He  withdrew  from  public  life  at  the  dissolution  of  the  Constitu- 
ent Assembly  and  thus  gained  the  fa\our  of  the  Pope. 

For  his  devotion  to  Louis  XVI  the  Pope  summoned  him  to  Rome.  He 
was  consecrated  as  Archbishop  of  Nicaea  in  partibiis,  and  in  1794  he 
was  made  a  cardinal.  He  was  given  a  valuable  living,  and  was  sent  as 
the  Pope's  nuncio  to  attend  the  coronation  of  the  Emperor  Francis  II. 
In  1804  he  returned  to  France  and  gave  his  allegiance  to  Napoleon 
Bonaparte,  who  appointed  him  grand  almoner  to  his  brother  Jerome. 
In  1810  the  Emperor  appointed  him  Archbishop  of  Paris.  This  lost 
him  the  favour  of  the  Pope.  Upon  the  return  of  the  Bourbons  he  fell  into 
disgrace  and  was  deprived  of  his  honours.  He  died  on  May  11,  1817. 
He  was  a  polished  and  able  writer.  His  "Essai  sur  I'Eloquence  de  la 
Chaire,"  published  in  1810  in  two  volumes,  is  considered  one  of  the 
best  books  in  the  language.  An  edition  of  his  "  CEuvres  Choisis  "  was 
published  in  five  volumes  in  1827. 


C   160  J 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

DAVID,  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Martha  Elizabeth  (Laird)  Eng- 
lish was  born  at  English  To^\n,  New  Jersey,  on  April  23, 1769. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  with  high  honours. 
For  tAvo  years  he  took  charge  of  an  academy  at  Basking  Ridge,  New 
Jersey,  which  had  been  established  by  his  friend  the  Rev.  Robert 
Finley.  In  1791  he  went  south  and  secured  a  position  as  tutor  in  the 
family  of  Mr.  Taney,  a  wealth}-  planter  in  Calvert  Count}-,  Mary- 
land. One  of  his  pupils  was  Roger  Brooke  Taney,  afterA\  ard  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States.  The  chief  justice  remembered  him  with 
respect  and  admiration.  Mr.  English  was  tutor  at  Princeton  from  1794 
to  1796.  He  was  capable,  affable,  and  made  firm  friendships  with 
many  of  the  students. 

In  1796  he  went  to  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia,  which  he 
made  his  home.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  commenced  the  publica- 
tion, in  company  with  his  friend  Mr.  Green,  of  a  weekly  newspaper, 
which  he  styled  ' '  The  Sentinel  of  Liberty. ' '  It  had  a  prosperous  career 
for  several  years.  After  engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits,  he  m  as  made 
in  1811  cashier  of  the  Union  Bank,  and  continued  in  that  position 
until  its  liquidation  in  1840.  Mr.  English  retained  through  his  life  his 
love  of  literature  and  the  classics.  He  was  a  firm  and  consistent  mem- 
ber and  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  now  known  as  the 
Bridge  Street  Church. 

Mr.  English  married,  on  October  14,  1796,  Lydia,  a  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  and  Isabella  (Anderson)  Scudder.  Her  father  was  colonel  of 
the  First  New  Jersey  Regiment  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  No  children 
were  born  to  them.  Mrs.  English  died  March  26,  1800. 

He  married  for  his  second  wife,  April  7,  1801,  Sarah  Threlkeld,  a 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Threlkeld.  Their  children  were: 

Lydia,  born  March  15,  1802;  died  unmarried. 

Jane  Threlkeld,  born  October  3,  1803  ;  died  unmarried. 

Thomas  B.,  born  March  3,  1805 ;  died  June  25,  1812. 

Charles  Greene,  born  October  10,  1806  ;  married  Martha  Southall ; 
died  February  12,  1872. 

John,  born  May  30,  1808  ;  died  October  31,  1809. 

Elizabeth  A.  Beall,  born  July  31,  1810;  married  Richard  Hen- 
derson. 

C  161  n 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

The  third  \\ife  of  David  English  was  Lydia  Ridgely  (Perry),  the 
widow  of  John  Henderson,  whom  he  married  November  9,  1819. 
Their  children  were : 

Cornelia  Washixgto.v,  born  October  26,  1820 ;  died  September  12, 
1821. 

Robert  Magruder,  born  September  27,  1824;  died  June  8,  1862, 
unmarried. 

Robert  Magruder  English,  who  was  born  in  Georgetown,  afterwards 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Jefferson  County,  West  Virginia.  He  was 
lieutenant  of  Company  G,  2d  Virginia  Infantry,  of  the  Stonewall  Bri- 
gade ;  he  was  badly  woimded  at  the  battle  of  Manassas,  and  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Port  Republic. 

David  English  died  on  March  30,  1856,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year 
of  his  age. 

Chief  Justice  Taney  says  of  him,  after  mentioning  the  tutor  who  pre- 
ceded him  :  "  At  the  end  of  that  time  a  new  one  Mas  engaged,  David 
English,  Mho  afterwards  edited  a  paper  in  GeorgetOMn,  and  Mas  for 
many  years  employed  as  an  officer  in  one  of  the  banks  of  that  place. 
He  Mas,  I  believe,  a  native  of  Ncm'  Jersey,  and  had  graduated  at 
Princeton,  and  Mas  in  every  respect  a  fortunate  selection,  for  he  M-as 
undoubtedly  an  accomplished  scholar,  and  seemed  to  take  great  plea- 
sure in  teaching  us.  At  the  end  of  the  year  he  advised  mj-  father  to 
send  me  at  once  to  College,  and  encouraged  him  to  do  so  by  the  very 
favourable  accounts  he  gave  of  my  progress.  His  advice  Mas  folloMed, 
and  I  Ment  to  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Mhen  I  Mas  little  more  than 
fifteen  years  old. 

"I  recall  M'ith  pleasure  noM"  the  unMearied attention  and  kindness  of 
my  old  preceptor  Mhen  I  Mas  under  his  care.  He  died  a  fcM  years  ago 
at  an  advanced  age,  and  it  is  pleasant  to  remember  the  interest  he 
took  in  my  fortunes  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  was  residing  in  George- 
toMn,  retired  from  business.  When  I  Mas  appointed  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  I  had  not  seen  him  for  a  great  many  years,  but 
as  soon  as  I  Ment  to  Washington  to  take  my  seat  on  the  bench,  he 
came  to  see  me,  and  M^e  met  one  another  full  of  old  recollections  and 
mutual  kindness. 

"And  da\-  after  day  have  I  seen  him  take  his  seat  on  a  bench  outside 
of  the  bar  in  front  of  the  court,  M-ithout  any  business  to  bring  him 

C    162   ] 


DAMD  ENGLISH 

there  or  any  interest  in  the  case  under  argument,  but  solely,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  his  old  pupil  presiding  in 
that  Court.  I  was  sensibly  touched  by  these  tokens  of  enduring  in- 
terest in  my  fortunes,  and  never  failed  to  go  up  to  him  and  converse 
with  him  for  a  few  moments,  whenever  I  saw  him  in  Court,  unless 
the  engagements  of  the  Court  made  it  impracticable."  {^Memoir  of 
Roger  B.  Taney,  by  Samuel  Tyler,  p.  38.] 

Mr.  English's  third  wife  survived  him.  She  died  near  Charles  Town, 
West  Virginia,  November  8,  1859,  in  her  seventy-seventh  year. 

Lydia  Scudder  English,  a  daughter  by  his  second  wife,  founded 
the  Georgeto\\  n  Female  Academy.  It  was  the  largest  school  in  the 
South,  and  pupils  came  from  every  part  of  the  country.  Upon  her 
monument  in  Oak  Hill  Cemetery  is  this  inscription : 

LVDIA  SCUDDER  ENGLISH 
BORN  MARCH    15,    1 802.  DIED  FEBRUARY   Z4,    1 866. 

SHE  FOUNDED  AND  SUSTAINED  A  SEMINARY  OF  LEARNING  FOR  YOUNG  LADIES, 
WHICH  GAVE  HER  A  NATIONAL  REPUTATION.  LEARNING,  ENERGY,  ZEAL,  AND 
FIDELITY  MARKED  HER  ACTIONS.  HER  MEMORY  IS  CHERISHED  ALIKE  BY  RELA- 
TIVES AND  FRIENDS.  HER  WELL  SPENT  CHRISTIAN  LIFE  IS  HER  MEMORIAL.  THE 
CHARACTER  OF  THOSE  SHE  TRAINED  IN  VIRTUE  AND  KNOWLEDGE  HER  EULOGY. 


[  From  David  Knglish  ] 

Baltimore  Janv.  31.  1796 

D^  Sir. 

I  HAVE  found  it  imprafticable  to  prepare  on  my  journey 
the  communications  I  had  intended  previous  to  my  setting 
out.  After  the  intimate  &  friendly  terms  on  which  we  have  so 
long  had  intercourse  I  feel  a  degree  of  anxiety  that  nothing 
on  my  part  should  ever  prevent  its  continuing  on  the  same 
footing  thro'  future  life. 

I  was  detained  after  leaving  you  5  or  6  days  on  my  way 
to  Phir.  the  principal  reason  of  this  delay  was  the  badness  of 
the  roads.  I  called  on  M"''  Hobart  a  few  minutes  which  I  men- 
tioned in  a  letter  to  M"^  Caldwell.  It  was  two  Oclock  on  Sunday 
C    163   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

before  I  reached  the  city  so  that  I  attended  only  D'  Green's 
afternoon  sermon  which  indeed  was  a  very  masterly  perform- 
ance. On  Monday  I  attended  in  Congress  Hall  &  in  the  Senate 
Chamber  but  there  was  no  interesting  business  before  either 
of  them.  Tuesday  I  entered  the  Stage  for  Wilmington  &  the 
travelling  was  so  bad  that  we  only  got  there  about  6  Oclock 
in  the  evening  the  next  day  I  came  on  by  N.  Castle  to  Chris- 
tiana where  a  cousin  of  mine  resides,  not  being  able  to  get  a 
passage  in  the  Baltimore  Stage  on  Thursday  morning,  I  went 
to  an  Ele6lion  at  N  Castle  to  choose  a  State  Senator  one  from 
that  county  being  declared  ineligible,  the  people  considered 
it  as  an  unnecessary  &  expensive  affair  &  that  there  was  an 
intention  to  put  in  a  man  in  favour  of  the  court  party  as  they 
term  it  &  therefore  they  turned  out  pretty  strong  ( 500 )  & 
re  ele6led  M"^  J  James  by  a  majority  of  100  votes.  Kinsey 
Johns  an  Attorney  was  the  other  candidate.  I  procured  a  horse 
at  Christiana  &  left  it  on  Friday  after  breakfast  expefting  to 
reach  this  last  evening  but  I  was  prevented  crossing  the  Sus- 
quehanna the  first  evening  by  the  ice  which  had  colle6ted  on 
the  shore  there  were  three  other  persons  in  the  same  situation 
with  myself.  One  a  M"^  Denison  late  a  merchant  in  Savanna  or 
Augusta  &  who  has  lately  purchased  the  farm  which  the  Rev''. 
M"^  Ireland  owned,  he  appears  to  have  accumulated  a  very  con- 
siderable fortune,  he  ownes  several  farms  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Phila.  &  one  in  Monmouth  county,  he  was  one  of  the 
original  purchasers  of  the  Georgia  land  but  being  displeased 
with  proceedings  relating  to  it  he  sold  out  for  14,000  Dol 
without  having  paid  forward  any  money,  he  says  he  would 
have  cleared  100,000  had  he  not  sold  out  till  this  time.  The 
Mail  arrived  at  the  ferry  soon  after  Sunrise  but  we  did  not  get 
over  before  noon.  I  stopped  at  Abingdon  &  took  a  view  of 
the  ruins  of  the  College  the  walls  are  so  much  injured  that 

C  164  J 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

they  will  not  be  worth  repairing,  some  part  even  of  the  out- 
side wall  has  fallen  down.  They  seem  very  confident  at  that 
place  that  it  was  intentionally  set  on  fire.  I  lodged  13  miles 
from  this  town  &  took  breakfast  before  I  ventured  to  ride  it 
was  so  excessivily  cold.  The  roads  were  extremely  rough  & 
I  did  not  get  here  much  before  1 2  Oclock. 

I  went  to  hear  D"^  Allison  preach  his  discourse  was  very  short 
&  I  then  went  to  hear  M"^  Bend  &  was  there  before  his  ser- 
mon commenced  it  was  from  "  But  here  have  [^torn  oiiQ  abid- 
ing city  but  we  seek  for  one  [^torn  out']."  It  was  a  very  ex- 
cellent piece  of  composition  but  it  seemed  to  me  that  it  was 
not  entirely  new  yet  I  cannot  be  certain.  I  thou't  he  might 
have  mended  the  manner  of  delivering  it,  he  was  not  deficient 
in  gesture,  but  the  tone  of  voice  was  far  from  natural. 

Some  gentlemen  who  are  talking  in  the  room  where  I  write 
have  just  reminded  me  of  an  incident  which  was  spoken  of 
while  I  was  in  Phi^.  D'  Redman  who  Mas  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  Court  for  that  distrift  was  detefted  in  the  a61:  of  taking 
from  a  merchants  drawer  a  bundle  of  Bank  notes  &  the  per- 
son after  recovering  the  money  kicked  him  out  of  the  Shop. 
This  is  a  very  disagreeable  occurrence  to  the  connexions  & 
he  is  removed  from  office  &  it  has  been  said  his  wife  has  parted 
from  him  in  consequence  of  this  afi^air. 

Present  my  respefts  to  M'  Caldwell  D"^  Maclane  M'  Burnet 
&c  if  you  write  on  thursday  direft  to  S'  Leonard  Creek  Cal- 
vert County  &  let  me  know  how  you  like  the  new  situation. 
I  propose  to  leave  this  tomorrow  morning. 

With  esteem  &  regard  I  am  your  friend 

D  English 

Superscription: 

M"  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton 

m 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATIONS 

Ashbel  Green. 

Ashbel,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Pierson)  Green,  was  born  in 
Hanover,  New  Jersey,  on  July  6,  1762.  He  studied  with  his  father. 
When  sixteen  he  entered  the  New  Jersey  Militia,  and  served  until 
1782.  He  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  graduated  with 
high  honours  as  valedictorian  in  1783. 

The  Continental  Congress  was  then  sitting  at  Princeton.  It  attended 
the  Commencement  in  a  body,  accompanied  by  General  Washington. 
A  direct  allusion  to  the  general  in  the  course  of  his  address  made  such 
an  impression  that  Mr.  Green  was  invited  to  dine  with  the  Congress 
and  the  commander-in-chief.  He  \vas  appointed  tutor  in  the  college, 
and  in  1785  was  the  professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy. 
In  1787  he  \\"as  called  as  associate  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  Philadelphia.  Upon  the  death  of  the  senior  pastor,  Dr.  Sproat, 
he  was  made  pastor.  In  1812,  on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Samuel  Stan- 
hope Smith,  he  became  president  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  He 
organized  the  Theological  Seminary  in  connection  with  the  college, 
and  was  the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees.  In  1822  he  resigned, 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  founded  the  "Christian  Advo- 
cate," and  remained  as  editor  of  it  for  many  years.  He  was  univer- 
sally esteemed,  and  held  important  offices  in  the  Presbyterian  General 
Assembly,  being  frequendy  the  moderator.  He  died  at  Philadelphia 
on  May  19,  1848,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

J.  James. 

Among  the  Welsh  settlers,  in  1703,  of  Pencarder  Hundred,  in  the 
lower  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  now  Delaware,  was  James  James.  His 
grant  from  William  Penn  was  of  land  near  Iron  Hill.  In  1723  a  por- 
tion fell  to  his  son  Samuel,  who  established  iron  works.  From  him 
probably  descended  John  James,  who  was  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  Delaware  in  1782,  1784,  1788,  1790,  and  1794. 
He  sat  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Delaware  in  December, 
1787.  In  1796  he  was  chosen  as  a  state  senator. 

Kinsey  Johns. 

Kinsey,  a  son  of  Kinsey  and  Susannah  (Gallaway)  Johns,  was  born 
C    166  ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

at  West  River,  Maryland,  on  June  14,  1759.  He  served  in  the  Revo- 
lution as  a  minute-man.  He  studied  law  under  Judge  Samuel  Chase 
of  Annapolis,  Maryland,  and  the  Hon.  George  Reade  of  New  Castle, 
Delaware.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practised  for  tw  elve  years 
in  New  Castle.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
Delaware  in  1792.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Clayton,  in  1793, 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  in  the  United  States  Senate  of  the  Hon. 
George  Reade,  who  became  chief  justice  of  Delaware  in  September, 
1793.  He  was  not  allowed  to  take  his  seat  owing  to  a  legal  techni- 
cality. He  succeeded  Chief  Justice  Reade  in  1798,  and  served  until 
1828.  From  1828  to  1832  he  was  chancellor  of  the  state.  He  died 
at  New  Castle,  Delaware,  on  December  21,  1848. 

He  married  Nancy,  a  daughter  of  Governor  Nicholas  Van  Dyke. 
Their  son,  John,  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  Princeton,  and 
graduated  in  1815.  He  served  various  parishes  in  Maryland,  from 
his  ordination,  May  6,  1819,  notably  Christ  Church,  and  the  Church 
of  the  Messiah,  Baltimore.  He  was  consecrated  as  Assistant  Bishop 
of  Virginia  on  October  13,  1842.  He  succeeded  Bishop  Meade  on 
March  14,  1862,  as  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  and  died  in  Fairfax  County 
on  April  5,  1876,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Detiison. 

Although  Mr.  Denison  was  evidently  a  man  of  influence  in  his  day, 
he  appears  to  have  left  no  memorial  of  his  residence  in  Maryland. 
After  a  careful  search,  Robert  F.  Hayes,  Jr.,  the  learned  librarian  of 
the  Maryland  Historical  Society,  says:  "In  regard  to  a  Mr.  Deni- 
son who  settled  near  Upper  Marlborough,  I  have  carefully  exam- 
ined Prince  George's  County  Rent  Roll,  and  I  find  no  such  name 
appears." 

John  Ireland  of  Maryland. 

The  Rev.  John  Ireland  was  born  and  ordained  in  England.  From 
1787  to  1798  he  was  rector  of  St.  George's  Parish,  Harford  County, 
Maryland.  He  was  also  principal  of  an  academy.  From  1798  to  1802 
he  was  associate  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore.  He  returned 
to  England  in  1802. 

He  is  not  to  be  confused  with  another  John  Ireland,  who  was  ordained 
by  Bishop  Provoost  in  1792,  became  rector  of  St.  Ann's  Church, 

c  167 : 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  was  subsequently  deposed;  a  notice  of 
whom  will  be  found  preceding  his  letter  of  September  23,  1802,  in 
Volume  II. 

College  at  Abingdon. 

Cokesbury  College  was  an  early  Methodist  foundation.  It  was  named 
for  Dr.  Coke,  who  was  a  man  of  great  learning.  It  opened  under  happy 
auspices,  but  was  soon  burned  down. 

Francis  Allison. 

The  Rev.  Francis  Allison,  D.D.,  was  a  leader  among  the  Presbyterians, 

and  was  for  some  years  provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Joseph  Grove  John  Bend. 

A  sketch  of  him  uill  be  found  preceding  his  letter  of  December  26, 

1804. 

John  Redman. 

John  Redman  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Societ}'  of  Physicians. 
His  home  was  at  No.  42  North  Second  Street,  near  Arch,  and  ne.xt 
door  to  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  of  which  Dr.  Ustick  \\as  pastor. 
He  died  in  1808. 

The  best  notice  of  a  man  of  great  originality  and  resource  is  found 
in  Watson's  "Annals  of  Philadelphia,"  vol.  ii,  p.  382:  "The  doctor 
had  retired  from  practice  altogether,  and  was  known  to  tlie  public  eve 
as  an  antiquated  looking  old  gentleman,  usually  habited  in  a  broad- 
skirted  dark  coat,  with  long  pocket  flaps,  buttoned  across  his  under 
dress ;  wearing  in  strict  conformity  with  the  cut  of  the  coat,  a  pair  of 
Baron  Steuben's  military  shaped  boots,  coming  alx)ve  the  knees,  for 
riding ;  his  hat  flapped  before,  and  cocked  up  smartly  behind,  covering 
a  full-bottomed  powdered  wig — in  the  front  of  which  might  be  seen 
an  eagle-pointed  nose,  separating  a  pair  of  piercing  black  eves — his 
lips  exhibiting  (but  only  now  and  then)  a  quick  motion,  as  though  at 
the  moment  he  was  endeavouring  to  extract  the  essence  of  a  small 
quid.  As  thus  described,  in  habit  and  in  person,  he  was  to  be  seen 
almost  dailv,  in  fair  weather,  mounted  on  a  short,  fat,  black,  switch- 
tailed  horse,  and  riding  for  his  amusement  and  exercise,  in  a  brisk 
racking  canter,  about  the  streets  and  suburbs  of  the  citv. 
I    168   ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

"He  was  so  well  known,  that  in  his  rambles  about  the  to\\n,  on 
foot,  he  would  step  in,  without  ceremony,  at  the  first  public  office 
which  presented  itself  to  his  view,  and  upon  his  seeing  any  vacant 
desk  or  writing  table,  set  himself  down,  with  a  pleasant  nod  to  some 
one  present,  and  begin  writing  his  letter  or  memorandum.  One  day, 
u  hile  thus  occupied  in  his  writing,  he  was  suddenlv  addressed  by 
a  very  forward  presuming  person,  \\ho  wanted  of  him  some  medical 
advice  gratis.  Finding  himself  thus  interrupted,  he  lifted  the  corner 
of  his  wig,  as  usual,  and  desired  the  person  to  repeat  his  question, 
which  he  did,  loudly,  as  follows :  — '  Doctor !  what  would  you  advise, 
as  the  best  thing,  for  a  pain  in  the  breast? '  The  wig  having  dropped 
to  its  proper  place,  the  doctor,  after  a  seemingly  profound  study  for 
a  moment  on  the  subject,  replied,  '  Oh  !  ay — I  will  tell  you,  mv  good 
friend — the  very  best  thing  I  could  advise  you  to  do  for  a  pain  in 
the  breast  is  to — consult  your  physician  ! '" 

Joseph  Cdldzvell. 
For  notice  see  page  99. 

John  Maclean. 

John,  a  son  of  Dr.  John  and  Agnes  (Lang)  Maclean,  was  born  at 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  on  March  1,  1771.  Left  an  orphan,  he  became 
the  ward  of  George  Mackintosh.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  entered 
Glasgow  University.  He  added  to  the  course  in  arts  a  special  course 
in  chemistry,  and  also  attended,  in  1786-87,  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Alex- 
ander Stevenson,  upon  anatomy,  midwifery,  and  botany.  In  1787  he 
was  in  Edinburgh  to  attend  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Black  on  chemis- 
trv.  He  then  went  to  London  and  Paris  to  pursue  the  best  possible 
instruction  in  medicine.  He  was  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Glasgow  in  1791  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  He  prac- 
tised with  success  in  his  native  city  until  1795.  In  April  of  that  year 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  By  the  advice  of  Dr.  Rush  he  set- 
tled in  Princeton  and  became  a  partner  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Stockton. 
He  was  invited  to  lecture  at  the  college,  and  took  as  his  subject  the 
chemical  theorv  of  Lavoisier.  The  lecture  was  so  well  received  that 
he  was  made  professor  of  chemistry  and  natural  philosophy  in  1795. 
In  1797  he  was  made  professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  philoso- 
phy. In  1804  the  title  was  changed  to  natural  philosophy  and  chem- 

C  169 ;] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

istry.  In  1812  he  resigned  and  was  made  professor  of  natural  philo- 
sophy and  chemistry  at  the  College  of  William  and  Mary,  Williams- 
burg, Virginia.  After  a  year,  his  health  did  not  allow  him  to  continue 
in  active  work.  He  retired  to  his  home  at  Princeton,  where  he  died 
on  February  17,  1814.  He  was  a  clear  and  able  lecturer,  and  devoted 
much  time  to  the  practical  side  of  chemistry  and  its  application  to  man- 
ufacturing and  agriculture.  The  College  of  New  Jersey  has  the  honour 
of  having  established  the  first  chair  of  Chemistry  in  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Maclean  published  "Lectures on  Combustion,"  in  1797;  in  con- 
troversy with  Dr.  Joseph  Priestley,  in  the  New  York  "Medical  De- 
pository," papers  on  the  "Phlogistic  Theory  of  Combustion." 

Dr.  Maclean  married,  in  1798,  Phoebe,  daughter  of  Absalom  and 
Mary  (Taylor)  Bainbridge,  of  Middletown,  New  Jersey.  Their  son, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Maclean,  became  a  mathematician  and  chemist. 
He  was  the  tenth  president  and  the  historian  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey.  He  died  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  on  August  10,  1886,  in 
the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

Elieze?-  Burnett. 

Eliezer  Burnett  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 
1799.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1804.  On 
November  20,  1805,  he  was  installed  as  pastor  at  Newburgh,  New- 
York.  He  died  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  on  November  22, 
1806. 


L   170  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

New  York  Tuesday  Morng. 
Feb.  1 6th 

Dear  John, 

WHEN  I  last  saw  you  I  expe6led  on  my  return  to  Philad. 
to  have  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  a  day  with  you 
at  Princeton.  It  will  now  be  out  of  my  power  as  Mary  goes 
with  me  to  Philad.  I  shall  go  in  the  Dilligence  which  leaves 
this  to  morrow  at  8  o'clock  and  I  believe  stops  at  the  College 
Inn.  As  it  is  uncertain  how  long  the  stage  may  stop  at  Prince- 
ton I  would  be  glad  you  could  make  it  convenient  to  call  at 
the  Tavern  when  the  stage  arrives;  as  I  should  not  wish  to 
go  tiirough  P.  without  seeing  you,  and  I  might  not  have  time 
to  call  at  the  College. 
I  have  got  the  book  you  desired  me  to  purchase  for  you. 
I  am  Affe6lly  Yours. 

J.  Robertson. 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 

Endorsement: 

M".  James  Robertson,  New  York.  Feb.  l6''^.  96. 


C  171  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  John  Johnsox  Savrs  ] 

Poughkeepsie  March  17th  1796 

Dear  friend — 

I  WAS  going  to  make  an  apology  for  not  writing  before 
but  siijiposed  to  you  it  would  be  useless.  I  think  you  need 
not  have  waited  for  me  to  write  first.  No  abstruse  point  occurs 
to  me  at  present  or  perhaps  I  might  trouble  you  as  well  as 
myself  with  it.  I  am  quite  barren,  having  had  to  write  so  many 
sermons.  I  wish  you  would  send  me  a  few  of  yours.  It  would 
afford  me  great  satisfadlion  to  see  them,  as  well  as  enable 
me  to  be  lazy  a  little.  I  wish  you  to  write  soon  &  to  start  a 
subje6l  of  correspondence.  I  have  nothing  new  to  communi- 
cate. I  suppose  you  have  heard  before  this  that  Bishop  Sea- 
bury  is  dead.  He  was  a  man  indefatigable  in  the  duties  of  his 
office  &  exhibited  in  his  deporti'nent  the  spirit  &  power  of 
Christianity.  I  think  him  a  loss  to  the  Church;  for  he  was 
not  for  halving  matters  &  yielding  to  every  new  demagogue; 
but  was  a  vigorous  asserter  of  her  rights  &  privileges.  Politics 
now  seems  to  be  the  general  topic  of  conversation  in  every 
circle,  polite  or  impolite,  male  or  female.  On  this  subject  I  do 
not  know  your  opinion.  I  get  the  news  almost  every  few  da3's 
from  a  New  York  paper  published  by  Webster  &  Co  the 
only  one  worth  reading  or  that  deserves  to  be  credited.  I  be- 
leive  our  present  government  a  good  one  &  w  ell  administered, 
&  I  wish  we  had  a  botany  bay  to  transport  every  upstart  who 
either  through  ignorance  or  misanthropy  condemns  it. 

I  shall  say  no  more  at  present  but  conclude  with  requesting 
you  again  to  write  soon. 

your  sincere  friend, 

John  J.  Sayrs. 

Superscription: 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Student  of  Divinity,  Princeton. 

C  172  ;] 


JOHN  JOHNSON  SAYRS 

ANNOTATIONS 

Samuel  Seabury. 

The  first  Bishop  of  Connecticut  died  suddenly  at  his  home,  the  rec- 
tory of  St.  James'  Church,  New  London, — for  he  was  rector  of  the 
parish  as  well  as  Bishop, — on  February  25,  1796,  in  the  sixty-seventh 
year  of  his  age  and  the  twelfth  of  his  episcopate. 

Samuel,  the  second  son  of  Samuel  and  Abigail  (Mumford)  Seabury, 
was  born  in  North  Groton  (now  Ledyard)  on  November  30,  1729. 
His  father,  then  a  licentiate  among  the  Congregationalists,  was  offici- 
ating in  the  meeting-house  of  the  Second  Ecclesiastical  Societv  of  the 
town  of  Groton,  situated  in  its  northern  part.  Soon  after  he  conformed 
to  the  Church  of  England,  and  "went  home"  to  receive  holy  orders. 
He  became  the  first  incumbent  of  St.  James'  Church,  New  London, 
in  1731. 

By  his  father,  and  in  the  superior  schools  in  that  important  seaport 
town,  the  young  boy  was  trained  for  college.  He  was  graduated  from 
Yale  College,  New  Haven,  with  honours,  in  1748.  His  father  \\-as  at 
that  time  rector  of  St.  George's  Church,  Hempstead,  Long  Island. 
There  \\as  need  of  more  clerical  service  in  various  parts  of  the  island, 
but  the  clergy  were  few  and  the  stipend  from  the  people  small  and 
uncertain.  It  Mas  under  these  circumstances  that  the  venerable  Propa- 
gation Society  in  England,  which  provided  in  part  the  salaries  of  many 
of  the  clergy,  allowed  candidates  for  the  ministry  to  act  as  catechists, 
reading  the  services,  instructing  the  children,  \isiting  the  sick  and 
afflicted,  under  the  direction  of  some  priest.  For  this  they  were  allowed 
an  annual  salary  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  pounds.  It  was  such  a  position 
that  Mr.  Seabury  held  at  Huntington,  Long  Island,  for  some  years 
before  he  went  to  Scodand  to  study  medicine  and  pursue  a  final  course 
in  divinity.  For  nearly  two  years  he  attended  medical  lectures  in  the 
University  of  Edinburgh.  While  \\aiting  to  reach  the  canonical  age 
of  twenty-four  for  his  ordination,  he  studied  divinity  in  England. 

At  length,  on  St.  Thomas'  Day,  December  21,  1753,  he  Mas  made 
deacon  in  the  Chapel  of  Fulham  Palace,  London,  by  the  Bishop  of 
Lincoln,  Dr.  John  Thomas,  and  on  the  fourth  Sunday  in  Advent,  De- 
cember 23 , 1 753 ,  in  the  same  chapel ,  Mas  ordained  priest  by  the  Bishop 
of  Carlisle,  Dr.  Richard  Osbaldiston.  Both  bishops  acted  by  commis- 
sion from  the  Bishop  of  London,  Dr.  Sherlock,  then  aged  and  infirm. 
C    173   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Upon  his  return  to  America,  early  in  1754,  he  became  minister  of 
Christ  Church,  now  Grace  Church,  Jamaica,  Long  Island.  The  nine 
years  in  which  he  ministered  were  those  of  growth  and  strength. 
Debating  for  some  months  where  to  remove,  as  his  family  was  in- 
creasing, he  finally  went,  in  1766,  to  Westchester  as  rector  of  St. 
Peter's  Church,  with  the  charge  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  East  Chester. 
Reopened  a  scliool,  which  was  largely  attended.  The  disturbances  in 
Church  and  State  at  this  time  found  him  ready  to  wage  a  valiant  war- 
fare upon  those  who  would  curtail  the  liberties  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land by  refusing  to  her  children  in  the  colonies  the  blessing  and  pri\i- 
lege  of  an  episcopate.  The  same  spirit  of  fairness  led  him  to  oppose 
the  attempts  to  sever  the  ties  that  bound  the  Americans  to  the  British 
Empire.  He  was  vigorous  both  in  upholding  the  pleaders  for  an  Amer- 
ican Episcopate,  and  in  sustaining  the  united  Empire. 

As  secretary  of  the  voluntary  convention  of  the  clergy  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey,  he  issued  many  important  documents  and  received 
much  abuse.  His  political  pamphlets  are  keen  and  clear,  notably  the 
famous  "Letters  of  a  W.  Farmer."  For  his  activity  he  was  marked 
by  the  Sons  of  Liberty  for  persecution  and  annoyance.  He  was  several 
times  obliged  to  flee  and  hide  himself.  After  haxing  been  carried  to 
New  Haven  without  any  proper  warrant,  he  was  treated  with  much 
indignity.  He  found  on  his  release  that  the  patriots  would  not  allow 
the  services  to  proceed  without  interruption,  and  in  1776  he  closed 
the  churches  at  Westchester  and  East  Chester,  and  with  his  family 
found  refuge  in  New  York,  then  in  possession  of  the  British.  His 
skill  as  a  ph^'sician  gave  him  a  partial  support. 

The  loyal  clergymen  in  New  York  officiated  in  turn  in  the  City 
Hall,  for  the  hundreds  of  refugees  who  could  not  be  accommodated 
in  Trinity  Church,  or  the  chapels  of  St.  George  and  St.  Paul.  Dr. 
Seabury  took  his  turn  with  the  other  loyalist  clergy,  and  also  oflSciated 
for  the  members  of  Colonel  Eklmund  Fanning's  Royal  American  Regi- 
ment, of  which  he  was  chaplain.  The  approach  of  peace  and  the 
meeting  of  the  clergy  of  Connecticut  at  Woodbury  on  the  Feast  of 
the  Annunciation,  March  25,  1783,  changed  the  whole  course  of 
his  life.  Called  to  serve  his  native  colon}',  now  a  state,  as  Bishop,  he 
did  not  falter,  but  went  to  England  to  obtain  the  boon  for  the  New 
World  of  "a  free,  valid  and  purely  Ecclesiastical  Episcopacy."  The 
manner  in  which  he  hazarded  reputation  and  fortune  in  the  quest  is 
C    174  J 


JOHN  JOHNSON  SAYRS 

a  stor)-  both  thrilling  and  uplifting.  The  polite  evasions  and  subter- 
fuges of  the  English  bishops  and  authorities  show  how  the  exigencies 
of  politics  w  ere  made  superior  to  the  good  estate  of  the  Church  of 
Christ.  Finally,  in  obedience  to  instructions  from  the  clergy  of  Con- 
necticut, he  sought  and  found  in  Scotland  bishops  who,  although 
proscribed  by  law,  were  willing  to  act  as  true  apostles.  In  Bishop  Skin- 
ner's Chapel  in  Long  Acre,  Aberdeen,  in  the  North  of  Scotland,  upon 
Sunday,  November  14,  1784,  Samuel  Seabury  was  made  a  Bishop 
in  the  Church  of  God  by  the  Primus,  the  Bishop  of  Aberdeen,  Dr. 
Robert  Kilgour,  the  Bishop  of  Morav  and  Ross,  Dr.  Arthur  Petrie, 
and  the  coadjutor  of  Aberdeen,  Dr.  John  Skinner. 

With  this  consecration  there  came  a  brighter  day  for  the  Church  in 
America.  In  his  administration  of  the  diocese.  Bishop  Seabury  dis- 
played the  same  sound  judgement,  the  same  careful  attention  to  every 
soul,  as  in  his  priestlj-  work.  He  spared  no  labour,  he  assumed  no 
haughty  aloofness,  but  was  the  chief  shepherd  of  the  flock  of  Christ 
in  Connecticut.  In  his  attitude  to  those  who  doubted  the  validitv  of 
his  consecration  he  was  patient,  calm,  and  he  soon  convinced  the 
greater  part  of  them  that  the  Catholic  remainder  of  the  Church  in 
Scotland  had  fully  preserved  the  Apostolic  Succession,  and  had,  as 
an  independent  branch  of  Christ's  Church,  the  right  to  consecrate  a 
Bishop  for  the  United  States  of  America. 

In  the  effort  to  unite  the  Church  in  New  England  \\  ith  the  Church 
in  the  other  parts  of  the  United  States,  the  Bishop  and  clergy  of  Con- 
necticut, \\hile  firm  for  the  true  Catholic  heritage  of  the  Church, 
which  seemed  imperilled  bv  some  acts  of  the  General  Convention 
from  1784  to  1789,  were  ready  to  yield  every  point  not  essential. 

To  the  wisdom  of  Bishop  White,  the  integrity  of  Bishop  Seabury, 
and  the  diplomacy  of  Dr.  William  Smith,  we  owe  the  happy  union 
made  in  October,  1789.  In  the  adaptation  of  the  Prayer  Book  to  the 
conditions  of  the  Church  in  America,  it  is  because  of  the  correct  litur- 
gical knowledge  of  Bishop  Seabury  that  many  proposed  changes  of 
phraseology  and  rubric  Mere  not  made ;  but  principally  are  we  in- 
debted to  him  for  the  restoration  of  the  Oblation  and  the  Invocation 
in  the  Service  for  the  Holy  Communion. 

To  detail  his  work  and  influence  in  the  formative  period  of  our  ex- 
istence as  a  national  Church  is  beyond  the  scope  of  this  sketch.  The 
words  of  his  great  successor  in  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  John 
C    175   J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Williams,  may  fitly  close  this  outline  of  a  full  and  noble  life.  They  are 
taken  from  page  100  of  the  sermon  entitled  "The  Wise  Ruler,"  and 
preached  in  Christ  Church,  Hartford,  June  9,  1885: 

The  power  and  \  alue  of  an  Episcopate  like  his  cannot  be  measured 
by  immediate  results  —  though  such  results  were  not  lacking  —  u  hich 
are  visible  along  its  progress  and  at  its  close.  Not  only  was  it  not  his 
peacefully  to  build  on  undisturbed  foundations ;  it  was  not  even  his 
to  lay  in  peace  original  foundations.  His  was  the  harder,  more  hope- 
less task,  to  re-lay  foundations  w  hich  had  been  torn  up  and  scattered, 
and  then  begin  to  build  upon  them.  And  under  what  discouragement 
was  the  task  to  be  undertaken  and  prosecuted :  w  ith  diminished  and 
diminishing  numbers  of  fellow-workers :  with  narrow  resources  and 
restricted  means ;  amid  manifold  and  unexpected  difficulties ;  amid 
jealousies  that  not  infrequently  deepened  into  scornful  enmity !  How 
often  must  he  have  cried  from  the  depths  of  his  heart :  '  Who  is  weak, 
and  I  am  not  weak?  Who  is  offended,  and  I  burn  not?' 

"Only  a  brave  and  genuine  man,  a  man  of  prayer  and  faith  and 
love,  could  have  borne  up  under  such  wearying  burdens.  But  he 
was  all  that,  and  even  more  than  that. 

"And  therefore  to  us  who  look  back  upon  our  history  as  a  diocese 
from  the  close  of  one  century,  to  those  who  shall  look  back  upon  it  from 
the  close  of  another,  na}-,  in  all  time,  its  central  figure  must  be  that 
massive  one  with  which  the  limner's  skill  has  made  us  all  famil- 
iar, as  it  stands,  facing  wind  and  storm,  supported  by  the  Word  of 
God,  which  in  its  turn  rests  on  the  everlasting  rock ;  the  figure  of 
him  by  whom  the  God  of  our  fathers  said  to  our  'Jerusalem,  Thou 
shalt  be  built ;  and  to  the  temple.  Thy  foundation  shall  be  laid. '  (Isaiah 
xliv.  28.)" 

Paper  published  by  Webster  &  Co. 

The  paper  alluded  to  is  "The  Minerva,"  for  notice  of  which  see 

page  295. 


C    176  •] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  April  7th  1796 

My  dear  John 

IT  was  with  much  pleasure  I  received  your  letter  yester- 
day after  so  long  a  silence.  I  have  been  expe61:ing  this  plea- 
sure for  some  time  and  I  need  not  tell  you  how  much  it  would 
have  gratified  me ;  but  I  have  felt  confident  that  it  was  to  your 
engagements  only  that  I  owed  my  disappointment. 

It  was  to  be  expefted  that  your  present  station  would  require 
much  of  your  attention  and  it  is  proper  that  it  should ;  but  when 
with  your  own  studies,  the  whole  of  your  time  is  engrossed  it 
cannot  be  very  agreeable,  and  to  be  obliged  in  some  degree 
to  negle6l  your  friends  cannot  be  the  least  unpleasent  circum- 
stance with  which  it  is  attended.  I  sincerely  wish  that  some 
alteration  may  take  place,  not  only  because  I  may  expe6l  to 
be  favoured  oftener  with  your  letters,  but  because  I  think  it 
would  be  more  for  your  happiness. 

I  have  often  intended  to  write  to  you  since  I  last  saw  you, 
and  I  know  you  will  beleive  me  when  I  say  that  it  was  not 
your  silence  which  prevented  me.  After  a  person  has  been 
engaged  in  the  store  through  the  day,  a  little  relaxation  in  the 
evening  is  not  only  agreeble  but  necessary.  It  is  true  that  one 
evening  occassionally  might  be  devoted  to  our  correspondents: 
but  when  we  are  for  any  length  of  time  accustomed  to  spend 
the  days  or  evenings  in  an  uniform  way,  it  is  always  with  re- 
luftance  that  we  deviate  from  it.  I  am  so  sensible  of  this  that 
I  shall  not  repeat  any  of  my  former  promises  of  being  a  more 
regular  correspondent  than  I  have  been  ;  but  at  the  same  time 
I  must  observe  that  it  is  my  intention  to  be  so;  as  it  is  pleas- 
ing to  myself,  and  gives  me  the  greater  expe6lation  of  more 
punctuality  on  your  part. 

C  177  ] 


HOBAR T  CORRESPONDENCE 

Several  of  the  Spring  vessels  have  arrived  &  brought  us  some 
Goods ;  but  they  are  so  early  that  business  is  very  dull ;  and 
none  of  the  shopkeepers  have  come  from  the  country.  These 
vessels  have  had  very  short  passages,  and  brought  intelli- 
gence to  a  very  late  date.  There  is  nothing  however  of  much 
importance. 

The  debates  in  Congress  have  lately  been  very  interesting. 
While  the  eloquence  and  abilities  as  you  observe  which  have 
been  displayed  on  this  occasion  will  reflect  immortal  honour 
on  the  minority;  the  late  decission  is  little  to  the  credit  of  that 
body.  There  has  not  been  a  subject  before  Congress  since  the 
establishment  of  the  present  Gov'  about  which  a  difference  of 
opinion  could  exist,  in  which  the  one  side  had  so  decidedly  the 
advantage  of  the  other.  But  with  men  who  were  much  under 
the  influence  of  party  spirit  who  were  determined  at  all  events 
to  sacrifice  everything  to  such  unworthy  motives  as  the  favour 
of  the  populace  and  their  private  interest;  and  who  had  made 
up  their  minds  to  resist  conviction,  it  would  have  been  vain 
to  expe6l  that  reasoning  however  irresistable  would  have  any 
effe6l  upon  them.  No  doubt,  a  number  of  the  majority  gave 
their  vote  from  a  mistaken  judgement;  but  it  is  no  breach  of 
charity  to  say  that  a  Baldwin  &  a  Maddison  have  not  that  ap- 
pology.  The  condu6l  of  the  President  on  this  as  on  all  former 
occassions  must  meet  the  approbation  of  every  good  man  and 
must  show  clearly  that  nothing  but  the  di6lates  of  his  con- 
science will  influence  his  condu6l.  His  message  was  yesterday 
taken  into  consideration,  and  the  business  begun  by  a  lengthy 
speech  from  Mr.  Maddison, the  substance  of  which  was  that  the 
reasons  the  P.  assigned  for  refusing  the  papers  were  not  suffi- 
cient nor  his  construction  of  the  Constitution  just. — He  how- 
ever admitted  that  the  P.  had  a  right  to  refuse  the  papers  — 
It  is  the  wish  of  that  party  now,  and  I  suppose  they  will  sue- 
I    17H   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 
ceed  to  have  their  opinions  relative  to  making  treaties  inserted 
in  the  journal  of  the  House;  which  is  stated  in  a  resolution 
now  on  the  table,  and  is  in  substance  the  same  with  one  laid 
on  the  table  a  few  days  ago  by  Mr.  Kitchell  which  I  suppose 
you  have  seen. 

The  legislature  of  this  state  adjourned  on  tuesday  last. — 
When  I  begin  to  write  to  you  I  feel  much  in  the  same  way 
as  if  I  were  in  your  company,  and  have  many  things  to  say 
which  the  want  of  room  and  a  fear  of  exhausting  your  patience 
induces  me  to  omit. 

I  am  Affe6tly  Yours 

J.  Robertson 

The  notes  enclosed  are  2  of  I20 — 4  of  $10  &  4  of  $5 — 
Remember  me  to  Mr.  Forsyth  &  Mr.  Burnet — Mr?  S.  is  now 
quite  well  &  also  the  family 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 

I  had  begun  the  enclosed  letter  on  very  thin  paper  before  it 
occurred  to  me  what  was  to  be  enclosed  in  it.  I  have  there- 
fore put  a  cover  over  it,  as  the  additional  postage  is  no  obje6l 
compared  with  the  additional  security.  I  also  do  it,  as  I  had 
not  room  in  the  letter,  to  enquire  if  we  may  expe6l  to  have 
the  pleasure  soon  of  seeing  you  in  Philad.^ 

Yours 

Superscription:  ]■  RoBERTSON. 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 

ANNOTATIONS 

Debates  m  Cotigress,  1795  and  1796. 

The  course  of  events  and  the  debates  in  Congress  can  be  learned  from 
this  summary  in  McMaster's  "History,"  vol.  ii,  p.  259,  and  follow- 
ing pages : 

C  179  ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

"The  House  met  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh  of  December,  1795, 
and  proceeded  to  choose  Jonathan  Dayton  Speaker,  and  John  Beck- 
ley  Clerk.  On  the  eighth  the  President  came  dow  n  to  the  House,  took 
the  chair,  and  opened  the  session  m  ith  his  speech.  The  task  \\  as  far 
from  pleasant.  The  House  was  no  longer  Federal,  and  before  him  sat 
men  who,  having  foully  slandered  him  for  five  long  months,  were  now 
bent  on  insulting  him,  crossing  him,  nay,  if  they  could,  presenting  the 
cup  of  humiliation  filled  to  the  brim.  Almost  as  the  door  closed  be- 
hind him,  their  w  ork  began.  The  established  usage  was  for  the  House, 
having  heard  the  address,  to  frame  an  answer,  and,  M'ith  the  Speaker 
in  the  lead,  march  in  procession  and  deliver  it  to  the  President  him- 
self. The  ceremony  m  as  an  idle  one.  Yet  no  man  of  feeling  would  have 
denied  that  the  representatives  ought  not  to  take  the  initiative  in  put- 
ting it  down.  As  long  as  Washington  performed  his  part,  common 
decency  required  that  the  representatives  should  perform  theirs.  But 
complaint  w  as  now  made  that  draw  ing  up  the  reply  produced  irrita- 
tion and  long  debates.  Some  of  the  most  bitter  things  said  during  the 
whole  session  were  uttered  in  these  wrangles.  Let  a  committee  go  to  the 
President  and  assure  him  of  the  attention  of  the  House  to  the  matters 
he  had  commended.  The  proposition,  in  short,  was  made  the  subject 
of  a  motion,  a  di\ision  taken,  and  eighteen  members  were  seen  to 
rise  in  the  affirmative. 

"This  ended  the  matter,  and  the  Clerk  in  time  read  an  answer  pre- 
pared in  the  usual  way.  The  member  from  Virginia,  who  wished  there 
should  be  no  address,  now  found  fault  with  the  language  of  the  pro- 
posed address.  Something  was  put  in  about  the  probably  unequalled 
spectacle  of  national  happiness  w  hich  the  country  presented,  and  about 
the  undiminished  confidence  of  the  people  in  the  great  man  at  their 
head.  The  words  'probably  unequalled'  were  ordered  to  be  erased 
by  a  vote  of  forty-three  to  thirtv-nine.  Whether  the  confidence  of  the 
people  had  or  had  not  diminished  provoked  so  impleasant  a  debate 
that  the  whole  address  was  recommitted.  \\'^hen  it  was  again  reported, 
the  word  'confidence'  did  not  anywhere  appear. 

"The  twenty-second  of  February,  1796,  afforded  a  new  opportunity 
to  affront  him.  The  House  w  as  then  asked  to  adjourn  for  half  an  hour. 
The  members,  as  the  mover  thought,  should  have  a  few  minutes  given 
them  to  congratulate  the  President  on  the  happv  return  of  his  natal 
day.  The  practice  was  an  old  one.  Never  since  \Vashington  had  been 
[   i8o  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

President  had  it  been  omitted.  Now,  however,  it  \\as  dropped.  The 
duty  of  the  representative  was  to  attend  to  legislative  business,  not  to 
pay  foolish  compliments.  The  subterfuge,  the  Federalists  declared,  was 
a  most  miserable  one.  When  the  Speaker  had  a  headache  and  sent 
word  he  was  indisposed,  did  the  House  choose  another  and  go  on  with 
the  business  before  if?  No !  it  adjourned,  and  condnued  to  adjourn  day 
after  day  till  the  Speaker  was  well  again.  Yet  thirty  minutes  was  too 
precious  to  be  wasted  in  a  respectful  compliment  to  the  best  man, 
perhaps,  then  living  in  the  world. 


The  prospect  of  a  war  had  been  much  dwelt  on  by  the  wTiters  and 
pamphlet-makers  of  both  parties.  If,  said  the  Federalists,  the  money 
is  not  voted,  there  will  be  war  with  England.  If,  said  the  Republicans, 
the  money  is  voted,  there  will  surely  be  war  with  France.  And  do  the 
people  know  what  such  a  war  means?  Have  thev  stopped  to  count 
the  cost?  War  at  any  time  is  a  dreadful  thing.  But  war  at  this  time, 
and  with  Great  Britain,  is  something  awful  to  think  of.  Those  who 
believe  one  citizen  to  be  equal  to  five  subjects  deny  this.  Thev  point 
with  honest  pride  to  the  late  war  with  England.  They  draw  compari- 
sons between  the  thirteen  poor  and  feeble  colonies  of  1775  and  the  fif- 
teen rich  and  populous  states  of  1796,  and  then  ask,  '  Shall  five  mil- 
lions of  Americans  give  up  the  independence  three  millions  won? '  Do 
not  these  fierce  w  arriors  know  that  if  they  rush  into  a  war  they  may 
be  forced  to  give  independence  up  and  again  become  subjects  of  the 
EngHsh  crown?  Why  will  they  not  see  that  a  contest  with  England 
now  would  bear  small  resemblance  to  that  glorious  struggle  which 
placed  it  in  our  power  to  make  the  treaty  they  so  heartily  despise? 
Twenty-one  years  ago  England  was  divided  and  America  united ; 
now  England  is  united  and  America  torn  by  faction  and  by  party  hate. 
Then  Americans  were  English  subjects.  Then  every  wrong  of  which 
America  complained  found  friends  in  the  Cabinet,  in  the  Parliament, 
in  the  great  body  of  the  English  people.  Do  they  now?  Could  Frank- 
lin come  forth  from  his  grave,  would  he  again  be  heard  at  the  bar  of 
the  House  of  Lords  ?  Could  Chatham  once  more  take  his  seat  among 
the  peers,  would  he  utter  one  word  in  defence  of  the  United  States? 
Should  the  King  again  send  troops  to  our  shores,  would  they  again 
desert  him  and  take  up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  States  ?  The  cause  in 
C    181    ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

A\  hich  these  men  spoke  and  fought  was  the  cause,  not  of  Americans, 
but  of  Britons.  Can  the  present  dispute  be  so  regarded  ?  No !  The  mo- 
ment the  treaty  is  rejected  every  English  subject  will,  to  a  man,  step 
forward  ready  to  sacrifice  life  and  fortune  in  defence  of  the  CroA\  n. 
Thousands  of  troops  will  come  over  the  border  from  Canada.  A  score 
of  ships  \\  ill  ravage  our  coast.  In  one  a\  eek  they  a\  ill  do  more  damage 
to  the  United  States  than  the  United  States  could  do  to  England  in 
ten  years.  Is  it  in  our  power  to  ravage  the  British  Isles?  Can  we  take 
Jamaica?  Can  we  capture  the  Bermudas?  Can  we  reduce  Canada  to 
a  subject  province?  The  Jacobins,  the  Democrats,  say  we  can.  They 
talk  of  an  army  of  four  hundred  thousand  men  eager  to  go  over  the 
St.  Lawrence  at  once.  No  doubt  tw  ice  that  number  would  gather  for 
a  field-day ;  would  march  and  wheel  and  fire,  and  go  through  every 
exercise  of  Steuben's  manual  from  Poise  firelock  !  to  Shoulder  firelock  ! 
But  would  they  do  so  two  days  running?  Would  they  do  so  when  the 
play  became  work  ?  when  the  muster-field  was  exchanged  for  a  bat- 
tlefield? when  the  training-dav  became  a  campaign?  Did  the  Gov- 
ernment find  it  an  easy  matter  to  gather  fifteen  thousand  men  to  put 
down  the  insurrection  in  the  West?  This,  to  be  sure,  A\as  caused  by 
the  excise,  and  the  excise  was  impopular.  Is  a  second  \\  ar  with  Eng- 
land more  popular?  Are  the  men  whose  houses  were  burned  about 
their  ears  ;  who  were  pillaged,  plundered,  robbed  of  their  goods  ;  whose 
hearths  were  made  desolate  by  the  loss  of  sons,  and  whose  garrets  are 
yet  full  of  bundles  of  continental  notes,  are  these  men  anxious  for  war  ? 
Suppose  that  hatred  of  England,  that  love  of  France,  that  patriotism, 
that  a  score  of  motives,  will  send  one  hundred  thousand  men  into  the 
ranks,  they  must  be  clothed  and  armed  and  fed.  This  will  cost  money. 
Fifty  thousand  men,  and  ten  armed  ships  and  ten  galleys,  all  ready  for 
war,  W' ill  cost  our  country  twenty  millions  of  dollars  a  year.  Will  any 
sober  man  pretend  we  can  bear  such  a  burden?  There  is  not  specie 
enough  in  the  fifteen  States  to  support  the  war  one  month.  If  we  resort 
to  domestic  loans,  who  will  lend  a  sixpence?  Shall  we  try  foreign  loans? 
Shall  we  go  to  Holland?  Shall  we  go  to  France,  the  land  of  assignats, 
of  requisitions,  of  the  maximum  of  forced  loans  ?  Here  again  a  fruit- 
ful source  of  help  in  the  late  war  will  be  wanting  to  us  in  a  new  one. 


"The  action  of  the  House  began  with  a  motion  by  Mr.  Livingston 

C    182   J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

on  the  second  of  March.  The  late  British  treaty,  he  observed,  must 
give  rise  to  grave  constitutional  questions,  to  decide  which  every  scrap 
of  information  attainable  would  be  required.  He  would  therefore  lay 
upon  the  table  a  resolution  calling  on  the  President  for  the  instructions 
given  to  Mr.  Jay,  for  the  correspondence  of  that  Minister,  for  all  the 
documents,  in  short,  relative  to  the  treaty.  When  the  motion  came  up 
for  discussion,  he  added  a  few  words  excepting  such  papers  as  any 
existing  negotiation  might  render  improper  to  be  disclosed. 

"W^hy,  he  was  asked,  is  this  demand  for  papers  made?  A  hint  is 
dropped  that  the  question  of  constitutionality  is  to  be  discussed.  If 
this  be  so,  then  the  motive  is  a  bad  one.  The  constitutionality  of  the 
treaty  can  be  settled  in  one  way,  and  in  one  way  only.  Take  the  in- 
strument in  one  hand  and  the  Constitution  in  the  other,  and  compare 
them.  Is  the  purpose  impeachment"?  Who,  then,  is  to  be  impeached  ; 
the  negotiator  or  the  President  ?  The  object  of  this  call,  was  the  reply, 
is  information.  What  use  can  be  made  of  this  information  remains 
to  be  seen.  To  say  that  an  impeachment  is  advisable  is  now  impos- 
sible. But  when  the  papers  come  the  step  may  be  necessary.  The 
chief  reason,  however,  is  a  firm  conviction  that  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives has  the  right,  a  vested  right,  to  give  or  withhold  their 
sanction  to  a  treaty. 

"Every  Federalist  in  the  House  denied  this.  Our  power,  said  they, 
does  not  go  so  far.  The  treaty  is  negotiated  ;  the  Senate  has  approved  ; 
the  President  has  ratified ;  the  ratifications  have  been  exchanged,  and 
a  solemn  proclamation  issued  enjoining  all  men  holding  office,  civil 
or  military,  under  the  United  States,  to  observe  and  enforce  the  same. 
If  this  be  the  proclamation  of  George  Washington,  the  man,  then  is 
it  worthy  of  scorn.  If  this  be  the  proclamation  of  a  despot,  taking 
upon  himself  the  right  to  dictate  to  men  without  their  consent,  then  is 
it  worthy  of  laughter.  If  it  be  the  proclamation  of  a  President  of  the 
United  States,  assuming  powers  not  delegated,  then  have  we  serious 
cause  for  alarm  and  dread.  But  it  is  none  of  these.  It  is  the  voice  of 
the  people  sounding  through  their  chosen  President,  and  is,  in  that 
sense,  as  heavy  as  thunder,  as  majestic  as  heaven,  and  todisobej-  it, 
treason  of  the  worst  kind.  Who  gainsays  that  the  Constitution  is  the 
expression  of  the  will  of  the  great  body  of  the  so\ereign  people?  Let 
us  take  it,  then,  as  our  guide,  and  see  by  what  authority  this  treaty 
has  been  made.  In  the  second  section  it  declares  the  executive  au- 
C    183   J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

thority  shall  be  vested  in  a  President ;  that  before  assuming  this  au- 
thority he  shall  take  an  oath  to  use  it  well ;  that  he  shall  have  power, 
by  and  ^\■ith  the  ad\'ice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  make  treaties, 
and  that  all  treaties,  \\hen  made,  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land.  Can  language  be  plainer?  Is  it  not  clear  that  the  will  of  the 
sovereign  people  fully  authorizes  the  President  and  Senate  to  make 
treaties?  and  that,  if  they  have  kept  within  the  bounds  prescribed 
by  the  Constitution,  the  instrument  now  in  question  is  the  supreme 
law  of  the  land?  The  work  of  Mr.  Ja_v  is  before  us.  Compare  it  with 
the  Constitution.  See  if  an  article,  a  sentence,  a  word,  nay,  a  S3'llable, 
is  unconstitutional.  This  we  may  do  of  right;  but  the  papers  will  not 
aid  us  in  the  least.  They  can  be  of  no  use  till  we  attempt  to  decide 
whether  it  was  expedient  to  make  a  treaty  or  not,  whether  it  is  good 
or  bad,  until,  in  fact,  we  act  the  part  of  judge.  Now,  have  we  right 
to  do  this?  We  are  told  we  have.  Whence  comes  it?  From  the  Con- 
stitution? No!  not  one  phrase  of  it  intimates  such  an  idea.  From  the 
fact  that  we  are  representatives  of  the  people?  No!  we  are  represen- 
tatives for  particular,  not  general  purposes,  have  our  powers  limited 
and  our  bounds  prescribed.  From  popular  opposition,  under  the  pre- 
text that  clamor,  begun  indiscontent,  fostered  in  passion,  and  strength- 
ened by  the  intrigues  of  interested  and  ambitious  men,  is  the  will  of 
the  sovereign  people?  How  are  the  numbers  of  the  malcontents  to  be 
found?  From  inflammatory  publications  in  the  newspapers,  teeming 
with  invective,  and  bearing  every  mark  of  the  heat  of  passion?  Will 
the  petitions  on  the  table  help  us  any  ?  They  do  not  represent  the  one 
thousandth  part  of  the  nation. 

"  \\  hatever  these  petitions  represent,  \^"as  the  reply,  they  call  for 
the  action  of  the  House.  The  House  cannot  act  w  ithout  light,  and 
light  cannot  be  had  without  the  papers.  The  question  is  not  a  con- 
stitutional one.  No  claim  is  made  to  the  secrets  of  the  Executive.  A 
simple  request  is  preferred.  If  the  President  diinks  fit  to  refuse,  he 
will  do  so.  Then  it  \\  ill  be  proper  to  decide  as  to  getting  the  infor- 
mation Millv-nill)'.  But  that  is  not  the  question  at  present.  To  make 
the  call  still  less  distasteful  Madison  now  offered  a  further  amend- 
ment, which  the  next  daj-  was  lost. 

"The  House  then  went  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  State 
of  the  Union,  the  mace  was  taken  down,  Mr.  Muhlenberg  placed  in 
the  chair,  and  the  debate  went  on. 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

"The  Federalists  took  the  ground  that  the  treaty-making  power  is 
by  the  Constitution  lodged  in  the  President  and  Senate,  that  a  treaty, 
when  made,  is  the  supreme  law  of  the  land,  and  that  the  House  of 
Representatives  is  morally  bound  to  pass,  without  debate,  any  law 
necessary  to  put  it  into  effect.  This,  they  held,  is  apparent  from  the 
construction  placed  on  the  Constitution  by  the  State  Conventions  that 
adopted  it,  by  the  practice  of  the  Government  ever  since,  and  by  the 
popular  interpretation  at  the  present  time. 

"The  Republicans  disclaimed  any  right  of  the  House  to  a  share  in 
making  treaties ;  but  firmly  maintained  a  right  to  discuss  the  merits 
of  a  treaty  when  made.  In  the  first  place,  they  argued,  treaty-making 
is  a  legislative  act,  and  no  legislative  act  is  valid  if  the  House  does 
not  take  part.  In  the  second  place,  money  cannot  be  drawn  from  the 
Treasury  except  to  meet  an  appropriation  made  by  Congress,  and 
to  pledge  such  an  appropriation  the  President  and  Senate  have  no 
power.  In  the  third  place,  the  powers  enumerated  in  the  eighth  article 
of  the  first  section  of  the  Constitution  belong  to  Congress,  and  not  to 
the  treaty-forming  power,  and  among  these  are  the  regulation  of  com- 
merce and  the  expenditure  of  money.  In  the  fourth  place,  the  terms 
'treaty'  and  'supreme'  have  been  shamefully  misused.  Much  stress 
has  been  laid  on  the  words  '  supreme  law  of  the  land.'  But  no  heed  is 
given  to  what  goes  before  or  follows  after.  Construe  the  Bible  so,  and 
we  shall  all  become  atheists.  In  the  good  book  are  the  words,  '  There 
is  no  God.'  But  when  we  turn  to  it,  to  find  out  what  so  shocking  an 
expression  means,  we  read  that '  The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart.  There 
is  no  God. '  In  the  Constitution  are  the  words '  supreme  law  of  the  land. ' 
But  when  we  refer  to  the  article  where  they  occur,  we  read:  'This 
Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States  made  in  pursuance  thereof, 
and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  shall  be  the  supreme 
law  of  the  land. '  Notice  the  gradation.  First  the  Constitudon,  then  the 
laws,  and  then  the  treaties  made  under  the  laws.  Not  one,  but  all  of 
them  are  supreme.  How  absurd,  then,  to  insist  that  the  third  in  order 
can  be  above  the  second !  Yet  gentlemen  say  treaties  repeal  laws  clash- 
ing with  their  provisions.  If  this  be  so,  if  treaties  can  repeal  laws,  then 
laws  can  repeal  the  Constitution  ;  for  the  second  (laws)  are  to  the  first 
(Consdtudon)  what  the  third  (treaties)  are  to  the  second  (laws).  Had 
the  clause  ended  with  the  words '  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land, ' 
there  might  have  been  some  plea  for  these  peculiar  doctrines.  But  this 
C    185   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

is  not  the  case.  The  article  goes  on,  'And  the  Judges  in  every  State 
shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in  the  constitution  or  laA\s  of  any 
State  to  the  contrary  not\\  ithstanding.'  This  boasted  supremacy  of 
treaties,  then,  is  over  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  States;  not 
over  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States ;  not  over  the  powers  of  this 
House. 

"Just  as  idle  is  the  belief  that,  if  the  House  refuses  to  make  the  ap- 
propriation necessary  to  carry  it  into  effect,  the  treaty  will  be  null,  the 
honor  of  the  country  tarnished,  and  that  no  nation  under  the  sun  will 
ever  again  make  a  treaty  with  a  people  so  unstable.  How  comes  it, 
then,  that  some  of  us  are  so  eager  to  have  any  dealings  with  England? 
The  House  of  Commons  possess  this  dangerous  power.  Read  the 
King's  speech  to  Parliament,  in  which  he  informs  them  of  the  treaty, 
promises  to  submit  it  when  ratified,  that  the}'  may  judge  of  the  pro- 
priety of  carrying  it  into  effect.  What !  judge  of  the  propriety  of  mak- 
ing laws  to  carry  it  out  when  ratified !  Shall  the  House  of  Commons 
ha\e  this  power  and  the  House  of  Representatives  not? 

"The  two  cases,  was  the  reply,  are  not  alike.  England  has  no  written 
Constitution.  We  have.  The  English  Constitution  is  made  up  of  laws 
and  usages.  When  you  prove  that  Englishmen  have  a  usage  of  the 
kind  mentioned,  that  of  judging  treaties,  you  have  then  proved  that 
such  is  their  Constitution.  Now,  if  our  Constitution  expressed  in  terms 
what  theirs  expresses  in  usage,  no  man  amongst  us  would  contend 
for  one  moment  that  the  House  has  not  the  right  to  question  the  merits 
of  a  treaty.  But  to  construe  a  written  Constitution  by  citing  the  prac- 
tices of  a  people  to  whom  such  an  instrument  is  unknown,  is,  to  say 
the  least,  misleading.  If  we  can  inquire  into  the  merits  of  the  treaty 
before  providing  money  to  put  it  into  effisct,  we  can  do  so  every  time 
we  are  called  on  to  pass  an  appropriation  bill,  because  what  is  sauce 
for  the  goose  is  sauce  for  the  gander.  On  this  principle,  then,  it  w  ill 
be  proper,  when  a  salary  is  to  be  voted  to  the  President,  to  stop  and 
ask,  Is  he  meritorious?  is  he  the  man  for  the  place?  does  he  deserve 
his  pay?  Or,  again,  suppose  the  salary  of  a  Judge  is  to  be  provided 
for.  Are  we  to  go  into  a  long  examination  as  to  whether  the  President 
and  Senate  have  appointed  a  fit  or  an  unfit  man?  So  far  as  the  House 
is  concerned,  anj'  President  constitutionally  elected,  any  Judge  con- 
stitutionally appointed,  is  the  most  proper  person.  Not  till  they  have 
done  something  so  shameful  that  public  good  requires  impeachment 
C    l«6  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

can  their  good  or  ill  qualities  be  discussed.  So  with  the  treaty.  We 
are  not  asked,  Is  it  a  good  one?  is  it  a  bad  one?  could  a  better  have 
been  made?  But  is  it  a  less  evil  to  abandon  our  national  faith,  or  to 
execute  the  document  as  it  stands?  Should  a  man  attempt  my  life, 
said  one  speaker,  I  have  a  right  to  kill  him  for  my  onn  preservation. 
With  his  moral  qualities,  with  his  friendliness  or  hostilitv  toward 
me,  I  have  nothing  to  do;  but  simply  whether  self-preservation  re- 
quires his  death.  If  not,  then  to  kill  him  is  murder,  though  he  be  the 
worst  man  on  earth.  If  the  treaty  is  so  bad  as  to  threaten  our  national 
existence,  then  kill  it  at  once.  This  is  rightful,  nay  dutiful.  But  will 
the  papers,  the  letters,  the  instructions,  help  us  to  find  that  out?  In- 
deed, no;  that  can  appear  only  on  the  face  of  the  parchment  itself. 

"The  argument,  said  Gallatin,  seems  to  be  this :  The  treaty  is  either 
constitutional  or  unconstitutional.  If  the  former,  then  the  House  has 
no  agency  in  the  business  but  to  assist Jn  putting  it  into  operation. 
If  the  latter,  the  fact  must  be  settled  from  the  face  of  the  instrument, 
and  no  papers  are  needed.  What  do  gentlemen  mean  by  a  consti- 
tutional treaty?  Admit  their  reasoning  to  be  sound,  and  to  make  an 
unconstitutional  one  is  impossible.  To  construe  fairly,  not  one,  but 
all  parts  of  the  Constitution  must  be  considered,  else  absurdities  will 
surely  arise.  One  section  declares  a  treaty  to  be  the  supreme  law  of 
the  land ;  yet  it  is  to  be  made  by  the  President  and  Senate.  Here,  then, 
is  an  apparent  contradiction,  for  elsewhere  it  is  provided  that  the 
legislative  power  shall  be  vested  in  three  branches.  Treaty-making 
cannot  be  termed  an  executive  act,  because  it  is  making  a  supreme 
law,  and  law-framing  is  a  legislative  act.  How,  then,  can  it  be  con- 
fined to  the  President  and  Senate?  National  compacts,  it  is  insisted, 
are  the  supreme  law;  so  are  the  Constitution  and  the  laws.  Which, 
then,  shall  have  preference?  Shall  a  treaty  repeal  a  law?  or  a  law  a 
treaty?  A  law  cannot,  because  a  treaty  is  made  with  another  party, 
a  foreign  nation,  that  has  no  share  in  our  law-making.  Nor  can  a 
treaty  framed  by  the  President  and  Senate  repeal  a  law,  because  the 
House  of  Representatives  must  aid  in  enacting  the  law,  and  all  sound 
government  requires  the  same  power  to  repeal  as  to  enact.  Hence  it 
follows  that  laws  and  treaties  are  not  of  the  same  nature.  If  a  treaty 
be  a  law,  and  the  power  of  making  it  resides  in  the  President  and 
Senate  unlimitedly ;  in  other  words,  if,  in  the  exercise  of  this  right, 
the  President  and  Senate  are  to  be  checked  and  restrained  by  no  other 
C    187  J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

branch  of  Government,  the  two  have  but  to  substitute  a  foreign  na- 
tion for  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  legislate  as  they  please; 
regulate  commerce,  borrow  money,  nay,  even  spend  it.  For,  they  might 
say,  the  Constitution  forbids  money  to  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury 
save  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  by  law  ;  treaties  are  law ; 
appropriations  made  by  treaty  are,  therefore,  valid. 

"Madison  took  the  same  view.  He  would  not  admit  the  word 
'  treaty '  had  the  limitless  meaning  claimed  for  it.  The  term  a\  as  tech- 
nical, and  the  meaning  to  be  sought  in  its  use.  In  an  absolute  mon- 
archy all  power  centred  on  the  monarch,  and  the  treaty  power  had 
no  bounds.  In  a  limited  government  it  certainly  had.  The  expression 
'supreme,'  again,  meant  supremacy  over  State  constitutions  and 
laws,  but  not  over  the  United  States  Constitution  and  laws.  There 
were,  to  his  mind,  five  constructions  of  the  Constitution  on  this  sub- 
ject. Treatv  power  and  congressional  power  might  be  considered  as 
separate  and  distinct,  and  never  touching  each  other.  Thev  might  be 
regarded  as  concurrent,  and  acting  together  on  the  same  objects,  like 
the  right  of  Congress  and  the  States  to  tax  the  same  articles.  Each 
might  be  supreme  over  the  other,  according  as  it  a\  as  the  last  exer- 
cised. The  treaty  power  might  be  view  ed  as  both  unlimited  in  scope 
and  supreme  in  authority.  Or  it  might  be  co-operative  w  ith  the  con- 
gressional power  on  subjects  submitted  by  the  Constitution  to  Con- 
gress for  legislative  action.  The  fourth  covered  the  ground  held  by 
the  Federalists.  The  fifth  that  taken  by  himself. 

' '  The  debate  had  now  rambled  on  for  three  days,  and  the  House  had 
quite  lost  sight  of  the  original  question.  'Shall  a  call  be  made  for 
the  papers?  '  had  become  '  Has  the  House  a  share  in  the  treaty-mak- 
ing power  which  the  President  and  the  Senate  enjoy?'  When  each 
party  had  grown  weary  of  wrangling  over  the  construction  placed  on 
the  Constitution  bv  the  other,  they  began  to  examine  what  had  been 
said  on  the  matter  elsewhere.  Long  extracts  were  read  from  the  '  Fed- 
eralist,' from  the  'Federal  Farmer,'  and  from  the  journals  of  the 
debates  in  State  Conventions  that  adopted  the  Constitution,  ^^^hy,  it 
was  asked,  if  treaties  are  not  the  law  of  the  land,  has  the  House  or- 
dered the  Clerk  to  place  them  in  the  code  of  laws  of  the  United  States  ? 
The  President  has  proclaimed  the  treaty  to  be  law.  If  it  is  not  law, 
why  is  he  not  impeached?  Why  has  not  the  House  called  for  papers 
regarding  the  Indian  treaties?  If  the  House  may  break  a  treaty,  why 
C    188   2 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

did  the  people,  during  the  summer  and  autumn  just  passed,  send 
scores  of  petitions  to  the  President  begging  him  not  to  sign?  The 
debates  in  the  Virginia  Convention  were  read,  and  heard  bv  the  Fed- 
eralists with  keen  delight,  for  Madison  had  been  in  the  Convention, 
and  had,  again  and  again,  there  declared  treaties  to  be  the  supreme 
law  of  the  land. 

"But  he  would  make  no  such  admission  in  the  House.  He  laid  it 
down  as  unquestionable  that  if  the  treaty-pow  er  could,  by  itself,  per- 
form any  one  act  for  which  the  authority  of  Congress  is  required 
by  the  Constitution,  it  could  perform  every  act  for  which  the  assent 
of  that  part  of  the  Government  is  necessary.  Congress  had  pow  er  to 
regulate  trade,  to  declare  war,  to  raise  armies,  to  lay  taxes,  to  borrow 
and  spend  money.  All  these  powers  are  on  precisely  the  same  foot- 
ing in  the  Constitution.  This  treaty  regulates  trade.  If,  therefore,  the 
President  and  Senate,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  House,  could  regulate 
trade,  they  could,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  House,  declare  \\ar,  raise 
armies  to  carry  on  the  ^\•a^,  and  collect  money  to  support  the  armies. 
For,  by  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  a  nation  at  war,  they  might  make 
the  United  States  a  party  to  the  war,  stipulate  subsidies,  or  furnish 
troops  to  be  sent  to  Europe,  Asia,  or  the  wilds  of  Africa.  There  was 
an  express  provision,  it  was  true,  that  no  appropriation  for  the  main- 
tenance of  an  army  should  be  made  for  more  than  two  years.  This  was 
a  great  security  against  a  standing  army.  But  if,  as  contended,  the 
House  of  Representatives  cannot  deliberate  on  appropriations  pledged 
by  the  President  and  Senate,  and  cannot  refuse  them,  what  hindered 
a  standing  armv  being  kept  up  by  provisions  in  a  treaty?  The  Con- 
stitution was  one  of  checks  and  limitations,  and  to  claim  that  under 
such  a  government,  the  treaty-making  power  was  omnipotent,  was 
utterly  inadmissible. 

"This,  said  a  Federalist,  might  be  true  if  treaty-making  was  a 
legislative  act.  But  it  is  not.  The  law  of  nations  is  one  thing,  and 
municipal  law  is  another  thing.  Treaties  ha\  e  to  do  with  the  former. 
Legislatures  deal  with  the  latter.  Compacts,  avowed  or  understood ; 
customs  which  rest  on  the  general  consent  of  nations,  implied  from  long 
usage ;  treaties  which  are  open  declarations  of  the  consent  of  nations ; 
these  make  up  the  law  of  nadons,  and,  whenever  they  apply,  treaties 
are  supreme.  A  treaty  is  not  a  law,  but  a  compact.  Treaties  stipu- 
late; a  law  commands.  A  treaty  may  agree  that  such  a  duty  shall  be 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

laid,  or  such  a  crime  punished,  but  it  cannot  lay  the  duty,  nor  inflict 
the  punishment.  It  cannot,  therefore,  act  as  a  law,  nor  produce  the 
eflfect  of  legislation.  It  is  a  compact,  nothing  but  a  compact,  and  in 
the  domain  of  compacts  is  supreme.  The  Legislature  cannot  make 
a  compact,  neither  can  a  treaty  pass  a  law.  By  the  Constitution  the 
President  and  the  Senate  may  make  a  compact,  and  the  House  can- 
not interfere.  Nor,  when  the  House  undertakes  to  execute  it,  can  the 
President  and  Senate  interfere.  Pow  er  to  stipulate  does  not  at  all  imply 
power  to  execute.  The  two  are  as  distinct  as  signing  a  bond  and  pay- 
ing it.  A  man  may  give  a  power  of  attorney  to  an  agent  to  sign  a  con- 
tract in  his  name.  But  can  the  agent  seize  and  take  awav  the  prop- 
erty of  the  man  if  the  contract  is  not  fulfilled?  Whence,  then,  these 
alarms  about  the  encroachments  of  the  treatv-making  power "?  Whence 
these  outcries  about  the  overthrow  of  the  authority  of  the  House  ? 
Whence  these  phantoms  conjured  up  to  frighten  us  out  of  our  reason 
and  our  common  sense?  This  power  is  lodged,  and  very  properly 
lodged,  with  the  Senate,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  House.  Treaty-mak- 
ing is  an  act  of  sovereignty,  the  Senate  is  the  onlv  branch  of  Congress 
in  which  State  sovereignty  is  represented  ;  to  it,  then,  belongs  this 
power.  While  the  House  holds  the  purse-strings,  while  no  treaty  can 
produce  its  effects  without  a  law,  and  w  hile  no  law  can  pass  unless 
the  representatives  concur,  the  Senate  cannot  abuse  it,  and  the  liber- 
ties of  the  people  are  safe. 

"Two  weeks  slipped  by,  and  the  debate  was  still  going  on.  Not 
till  the  twenty-fourth  of  March  did  the  Committee  divide  on  Livings- 
ton's resolution.  Sixty-one  were  for  it,  and  thirty-eight  against.  When 
the  yeas  and  nays  were  called  in  the  House,  one  member,  who  voted  No 
in  committee,  changed  and  answered  Yes.  Livingston  and  Gallatin 
were  then  sent  to  carry  the  resolution  to  the  President.  They  reported 
his  words  to  be,  'he  would  take  the  resolution  into  consideration.' 

"Washington  took  a  week  to  consider,  and,  ^\h[\e  he  deliberated 
on  the  best  form  of  answer  to  make,  the  people  grew  impatient  to 
know  what  he  would  do.  As  the  representative  of  all  the  People  of  the 
United  States,  he  would,  the  Federalists  declared,  unquestionably 
make  such  answer  as  became  him.  They  then  went  on  to  illustrate 
the  position  of  the  House  by  an  allusion  to  Shakespeare :  '  I  can  call 
spirits  from  the  vasty  deep,'  said  Glendower.  'And  so  can  I,'  said 
Hotspur,  '  but  will  they  come?  '  The  House,  in  the  plenitude  of  num- 

C  190  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

bers,  might  think  itself  all-powerful.  But  the  people  were  too  well  in- 
formed to  belie\e  everything  called  for  would  come.  There  were  seven 
stubborn  facts  for  the  Democrats  to  consider.  The  papers  asked  for 
had  already  been  laid  before  the  Senate  as  the  Constitution  required. 
They  were  upon  the  file  of  the  Senate.  This  file  was  alwavs  acces- 
sible. Every  member  of  the  House  knew  them  to  be  in  the  very  build- 
ing where  he  sat.  During  the  debate  a  member  stated  that  he  had 
seen  them.  The  more  important  had  already  been  printed  in  Ran- 
dolph's 'Vindication.'  It  had,  moreover,  in  such  cases  always  been 
the  custom  of  the  House  to  ask  the  papers  of  the  Senate.  When  these 
facts  were  considered,  what  should  be  said  of  men  who  spent  eight- 
een days  inventing  a  plausible  excuse  to  demand  what  they  could  with 
the  utmost  ease  obtain  in  as  many  hours? 

"The  answer  of  the  President  to  the  committee,  said  the  Republi- 
cans, is  an  exact  translation  of  that  which  the  King  of  France  used  to 
make  to  such  petitions  of  his  subjects  as  he  could  not,  in  his  wisdom, 
grant.  ''Le  mi  s^avisera,''  was  the  answer  of  Louis.  'I  will  consider,' 
was  the  answer  of  Washington.  One  thing  was  yet  to  be  determined, 
and  that  was,  whether  the  two  replies  had  the  same  import.  It  soon 
appeared  that  they  had.  On  the  thirtieth  of  March  the  President 
made  an  explicit  refusal.  Thereupon  the  House,  in  a  passion,  passed 
two  resolutions.  One  disclaimed  the  wish  to  have  '  any  agency  in  mak- 
ing treaties.'  The  other  maintained  that,  when  a  call  A\as  made  on 
the  President  for  information,  the  representatives  were  not  bound  to 
state  for  what  purpose  it  was  wanted." 

Abraham  Baldwin. 

Abraham  Baldwin  Avas  born  in  Guilford,  Connecticut,  on  No\ember 
6,  1754.  He  graduated  from  Yale  College,  New  Haven,  in  1772.  He 
was  tutor  in  this  college  from  1775  to  1779.  From  1777  to  1783  he 
was  a  chaplain  in  the  Continental  Army.  At  the  solicitation  of  General 
Greene  he  removed  to  Georgia  in  1784.  He  sat  in  the  state  legislature, 
and  introduced  the  law  providing  for  the  establishment  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Georgia  and  its  endowment  with  forty  thousand  acres  of  land. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  from  1785  to  1788; 
a  member  of  the  United  States  Constitutional  Convention  in  1787; 
and  appointed  on  the  committee  to  draft  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  The  original  draft  was  found  among  his  papers  after  his  death. 
C    191    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  1789  to  1799,  and  a  member  of 
the  United  States  Senate  from  1799  to  1807.  He  was  the  president  of 
the  Uni\ersity  of  Georgia  for  several  3ears.  He  died  at  Washington, 
District  of  Cokmibia,  on  March  4,  1807.  Upon  his  tombstone  is  in- 
scribed :  ' '  His  devotion  to  his  Country  his  greatest  fame  ;  her  Consti- 
tution his  greatest  work." 

James  Madison. 

James,  the  son  of  James  and  Eleanor  Rose  (Conway)  Madison,  was 
born  at  Port  Conway,  King  George  County,  Virginia,  on  March  16, 
1751.  He  was  educated  at  Donald  Robertson's  School,  near  Mont- 
pelier,  and  was  prepared  for  college  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Martin,  min- 
ister of  the  parish.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
with  honour  in  1771.  He  took,  under  President  Witherspoon,  a  post- 
graduate course  in  Hebrew.  As  his  health,  which  had  been  injured 
by  his  close  confinement  to  study,  would  allow,  he  acted  as  tutor  in 
his  father's  family  for  two  years  from  1772.  He  also  studied  history, 
constitutional  law,  and  theology. 

In  1774  Mr.  Madison  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
for  Orange  County.  In  May,  1776,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  State 
Convention  at  Williamsburg.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  on 
drafting  a  Constitution.  He  was  the  author  of  the  clause  in  that  instru- 
ment declaring  freedom  in  religion.  He  sat  in  the  first  state  legisla- 
ture, but  not  in  the  second,  "as  he  would  not  solicit  votes  or  furnish 
refreshments  to  voters."  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  council 
by  the  legislature.  In  1780  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, in  which  he  at  once  became  a  leader.  Important  legislation  was 
due  to  him.  From  1784  to  1786  he  was  a  member  of  the  Virginia 
legislature,  and  aided  in  the  revision  of  the  statutes  and  in  the  with- 
drawal of  the  state  support  to  "the  Church  of  England,  as  estab- 
lished by  law." 

In  September,  1786,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Annapolis  Conven- 
tion which  called  the  National  Convention  at  Philadelphia  in  1787. 
In  the  Continental  Congress  the  qualities  of  Mr.  Madison  were  fully 
shown,  and  as  a  member  of  the  committee  on  drafting  a  Constitution, 
he  advocated  the  "Virginia  Plan,"  and  consequently  many  of  its  pro- 
visions were  incorporated  in  the  Federal  Constitution.  As  a  speaker 
and  writer  at  that  time,  Mr.  Madison  attained  his  highest  fame.  "The 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

Federalist,"  which  he  wrote  in  connection  with  Hamilton  and  Jay, 
is  both  a  literary  and  political  masterpiece. 

Mr.  Madison  served  in  Congress  from  1789  to  1797.  In  1794  he  de- 
clined the  appointments  of  Minister  to  France  and  Secretary  of  State. 
His  leadership  of  the  Republican  party  made  him,  in  1796,  the  choice 
of  many  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  but  he  urged  the  selec- 
tion of  Thomas  Jefferson.  In  1801  he  was  made  Secretary  of  State  by 
President  Jefferson.  He  served  for  eight  years  in  very  exciting  times. 
He  was  able  to  retain  his  composure  under  trying  circumstances  and 
averted  many  threatened  dangers. 

In  1809  he  was  chosen  President.  The  war  with  England,  which 
had  been  imminent,  was  declared  on  June  18,  1812.  In  New  England 
it  was  extremely  unpopular.  The  President  and  his  advisers  were 
subjected  to  very  coarse  abuse.  At  the  close  of  his  second  term,  on 
March  4,  1817,  he  returned  to  his  home  at  Montpelier.  Here  he  lived 
in  philosophic  content.  He  became  rector  and  visitor  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia,  and  visitor  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary.  He 
died  on  June  28,  1836,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

Aaron  Kitchell. 

Aaron  Kitchell  was  born  in  Hanover,  New  Jersey,  on  July  10,  1774. 
His  education  was  received  in  the  common  schools.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  blacksmith  and  worked  at  it.  He  threw  in  his  lot  with  the  Revo- 
lution. He  sat  in  the  United  States  Congress  from  1791  to  1797,  and 
from  1 799  to  1801 .  In  1805  hewas  elected  a  Senator  from  New  Jersey, 
and  served  until  1809.  He  was  a  strong  anti-Federalist.  He  served  as 
member  of  the  New  Jersey  legislature  for  some  years.  He  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  on  the  Monroe-Tompkins  ticket  in  1817.  He  died  at 
Hanover,  New  Jersey,  on  June  25,  1820. 


C    -^95  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  John  Coxrad  Otto  ]  ' 

Philadelphia  May  8th  1796 

My  dear  Hobart, 

MY  brother  Daniel  will  continue  his  studies  at  Princeton. 
He  will  arrive  early  to  secure  his  room,  and  make 
every  requisite  preparation  for  his  summer  studies.  He,  like 
all  boys,  has  made  declarations  of  his  intentions  to  study  dili- 
gently;  but  as  his  former  habits  have  been  so  contrary,  I  shall 
be  satisfied  with  a  gradual  change.  I  sincerely  thank  you,  for 
the  attention  you  have  bestowed  upon  him,  and  wish  that  you 
would  continue  it.  A61  according  to  the  dictates  of  your  own 
understanding.  As  indolence  is  the  parent  of  vice,  I  would  be 
pleased  that  you  would  have  an  eye  to  his  being  employed 
constantly  and  his  avoiding  bad  company.  Jacob  has  promised 
me  that  he  will  be  particularly  careful  relative  to  his  condu6l 
in  these  particulars.  Although  his  advice  to  Dan  will  not  be 
sufficient,  yet  his  situation  gives  him  an  opportunity  of  observ- 
ing whatever  is  censurable,  and  transmitting  it  to  those  whom 
he  will  attend.  Boys,  like  him,  must  be  governed  by  fear  as 
well  as  by  a  sense  of  honor  and  redlitude.  His  reason  is  not 
the  only  thing  we  are  to  address.  It  is  better  to  prevent  than 
to  punish  after  a  crime  is  committed.  My  brother's  declara- 
tions are  fair,  but  I  wish  to  remove  everything  that  could  lead 
to  error.  Perhaps  this  is  the  best  period  in  his  life  for  fixing 
good  habits;  whatever  they  may  be,  they  will  be  considerably 
permanent.  I  wish  to  take  advantage  of  his  present  disposi- 
tions, and  turn  them,  if  possible,  to  his  future  advantage.  Stri6l- 
ness  and  severity  may  be  carried  to  excess,  but,  I  rather  think, 
it  seldom  is  at  Princeton.  You  are  upon  the  ground,  and  know 
whatever  is  most  proper,  and  I  have  every  disposition  to  sup- 
pose you  will  pursue  it.  I  am  sorry  to  give  you  so  much  trouble 

C  194  2 


JOHN  CONRAD  OTTO 

about  my  brother,  but  his  being  under  my  particular  care,  and 
having  nobody  else  to  dire6l  him,  I  feel  a  more  lively  solici- 
tude about  his  welfare  than  you  can  imagine.  Should  you  think 
it  necessary,  at  any  time,  for  me  to  write  to  Dr.  Smith  con- 
cerning him,  inform  me.  Be  not  too  indulgent.  The  decision 
concerning  appropriations  for  the  british  treaty  will  please 
you  Princeton  politicians,  for  I  hear  you  have  sent  a  petition 
to  congress  to  appropriate. 

Your  sincere 

friend 

A^     TT        TT  John.  C.  Otto 

Mr.  Hexrv  Hobart. 

Superscription: 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton — ■ 


ANNOTATIONS 

Daniel  Otto. 

No  information  regarding  Daniel  Otto,  the  brother  of  John  Conrad 
Otto  and  Jacob  Schweighauser  Otto,  is  a\  ailable.That  he  did  not  take 
his  degree  at  Princeton  is  certain,  since  his  name  does  not  appear 
among  the  list  of  graduates. 

Jacob  Schweighauser  Otto. 

Jacob  Schweighauser  Otto,  son  of  Dr.  Bodo  and  Catherine  (Schweig- 
hauser) Otto,  was  born  January'  17,  1778.  He  graduated  from  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  in  1797.  He  married  Phoebe,  daughter  of  James 
and  Hannah  Whitehead,  at  Philadelphia,  December  19, 1811.  Hebe- 
came  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  The  subsequent  life  of  Mr.  Otto  was 
passed  in  western  Ne\v  York.  In  1821  he  succeeded  Joseph  Ellicott, 
who  had  been  justlv  styled  "the  Patroon  and  Founder  of  settlements 
on  the  Holland  Purchase,"  as  resident  agent  of  the  Holland  Company, 
whose  tract  of  land  embraced  a  large  part  of  \\estern  Ne\\'  York . 

O.  Turner,  in  his  "Pioneer  History  of  the  Holland  Purchase,"  page 
441,  says  of  Mr.  Otto: 

"The  period  of  his  agency  was  from  1821  to  his  death,  in  1826. 
C    195   J 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

Although  possessed  of  many  amiable  qualities,  his  previous  pursuits 
and  business  experience  were  not  well  adapted  to  fit  him  for  the  new 
and  peculiar  duties  of  the  place  he  was  called  to  fill ;  though  the 
period  of  his  incumbency  was  one  of  active  and  extensive  sales,  and 
his  efforts  were  not  wanting  to  perpetuate  the  liberal  policy  that  had 
so  generally  characterized  the  ownership  and  agencies  of  the  Pur- 
chase. The  measures  adopted  during  his  agency  were  such  as  tended 
to  promote  the  interests  and  prosperity  of  the  Holland  Purchase. 

"At  the  great  canal  celebration,  in  Lockport,  on  the  26th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1825,  he  was  one  of  the  delegation  from  the  county  of  Genesee. 
From  some  exposure  upon  that  occasion,  he  contracted  a  cold,  which 
terminated  in  his  death  May  2d,  1826. 

"It  was  during  Mr.  Otto's  administration,  that  the  plan  of  receiving 
cattle  and  grain  from  the  settlers,  that  had  previously  been  enter- 
tained, was  effectually  commenced.  Depots  were  designated  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  Purchase,  for  the  delivery  of  wheat ;  where  the 
settler  could  carrv  it,  and  have  its  value  endorsed  upon  his  contract. 
Agents  were  appointed  to  receive  cattle.  They  advertised  yearly,  the 
times  and  places,  when  and  where  the  cattle  would  be  recei\  ed,  fixed 
upon  their  price,  and  endorsed  it  upon  contracts.  It  was  one  among 
the  measures  of  relief,  and  its  operation  was  highly  beneficial.  The 
agencies  were,  however,  expensive  to  the  company,  and  allow  ing  the 
market  price  for  the  grain  and  cattle,  they  were  largely  the  losers  by 
the  operations." 

According  to  information  furnished  by  his  grandson,  Jacob  Schweig- 
hauser  Otto,  who  graduated  from  Princeton  in  1895  and  is  now  a 
physician  in  Buff'alo,  New  York,  the  date  of  his  grandfather's  death 
was  in  1827,  and  not  in  1826  as  stated  by  Turner.  His  remains  were 
interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Batavia.  Upon  a  marble  table  covering  his 
grave  there  is,  in  part,  the  following  inscription : 

"A  man  of  honorable  principles,  intelligent  mind,  accomplished 
manners  and  benevolent  heart.  In  his  death,  a  wife  lost  an  affectionate 
husband  and  his  children  a  fond  parent,  the  cause  of  Religion  a  lib- 
eral ad\ocate,  the  poor  a  faithful  friend  and  Society  an  enlightened 
and  useful  member." 


:  196  2 


WALTER  STEWART 

WALTER  Stewart  was  born  about  1756.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Revolution  he  organized  a  company  for  the  Third  Pennsyl- 
vania Battalion.  He  was  commissioned  captain  on  January  6,  1776, 
and  made  aide-de-camp  to  General  Gates,  May  26,  1776.  On  June  17, 
1777,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  a  Pennsylvania  state  regiment. 
He  was  with  it  at  the  battles  of  Brandy  wine  and  Germantown.  On 
November  12,  1777,  his  regiment  was  made  the  Thirteenth  Pennsyl- 
vania in  the  Continental  Army.  On  January  17,  1781,  it  was  incor- 
porated with  the  Second  Pennsylvania  under  Colonel  Stewart's  com- 
mand. He  served  with  distinction  throughout  the  war,  retiring  Janu- 
ary 1,  1783,  with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  was  afterward 
a  merchant  in  Philadelphia  and  major-general  ot  the  state  militia.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  the  handsomest  man  in  the  American  army.  He 
died  at  Philadelphia,  June  14,  1796.  His  full-length  portrait  is  on  the 
left  of  the  American  line  of  officers  in  Colonel  Trumbull's  picture  of 
the  "Surrender  of  Cornwallis."  General  Stewart  married  Deborah,  a 
daughter  of  Blair  McClenachan,  a  wealthy  merchant  and  political 
leader.  She  was  one  of  the  famous  beauties  of  Philadelphia,  and  her 
portrait  was  painted  bj-  Peale.  She  was  a  particular  friend  of  Mrs. 
\\'ashington.  General  Stewart  lived  in  a  spacious  mansion  on  High 
Street,  adjoining  the  home  of  Washington  during  his  presidency. 


[  From  Walter  Stewart  ] 

Philadelphia,  May  llth  1796 

Sir 

YOUR  favi;  of  the  7'''  Inst.  I  received  on  my  return  to 
Town,  and  thank  you  for  the  Trouble  you  took  in  giving 
the  Information  it  contained. 

On  refle6lion,  't  is  my  anxious  vdsh  that  William  should  avail 
Himself  of  the  kind  offer  made  by  Mr  Little  John  of  taking 
Him  into  his  room,  as  that  Gentleman  and  his  Companion 
are  universally  well  spoken  of,  for  their  amiable  and  studious 

c  197 ;] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENXE 

dispositions;  but  this  matter  I  shall  leave  entirely  under  your 
dire6lion,  well  satisfied  you  will  advise  Him  for  the  best. 

Enclos'd  you  will  find  two  Bank  Notes  Amount  S70,  out  of 
which  I  Pray  you  to  pay  the  necessary  Advances,  and  should 
any  part  remain,  you  will  be  pleased  to  hold  it  for  Williams 
use,  paying  him  half  a  Dollar  P  week  for  his  Small  Expenses, 
&  paying  for  any  little  things  which  may  be  necessary  for  his 
Convenience  &  Comfort.  As  it  is  my  most  Sanguine  Wish  that 
He  sliould  prove  a  good  Scholar,  I  must  again  Entreat  you 
would  take  Him  for  this  Session  under  your  private  Tuition, 
the  Compensation  I  shall  leave  wholly  to  yourself,  &  pay  with 
pleasure  whenever  you  are  pleased  to  make  me  acquainted 
with  the  Amount. 

His  disposition  I  know  you  will  find  good,  &  being  Early 
habituated  to  Study,  it  will  soon  become  a  pleasure  to  Him. 

I  Pray  you  to  charge  me  for  the  rules  I  received.  Postage 
&ca  And  am  Sir 

With  Much  respe6l 

Y'  obed  ser^t 

Walter  Stewart 

Superscription: 

Mr  John  H.  Hobart,  Princetown  College 


ANNOTATIONS 

JVilliam  Stezvart. 
For  notice  see  page  217. 

Joseph  Blount  Littlejohn. 

Joseph  Blount  Littlejohn  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
in  1796.  He  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  in  1799  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature  from  Chowan  County.  The  University  of  North 
Carolina  conferred  on  him,  in  1799,  the  honorary  degree  of  master  of 
arts.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  universitv  from  1812  to  1817. 

c  198 : 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

[  Froji  Dav^id  English  ] 

Mav  1 1. 
PS. 

I  find  the  [^^toni']  by  Gen'.  Lee  is  true  it  has  at  least  been  repeated 
to  me  sundry  times.  The  Commissioners  have  procured  the 
money  for  the  use  of  the  city  from  Gilmore  ( I  think )  a  Mer- 
chant in  Baltimore  &  agent  for  a  Dutch  company,  5  1/2  per 
Cent  interest  I  understand.  It  is  thou't  improvements  will  go 
on  with  new  vigour. 

I  send  you  two  papers  containing  each  a  piece  about  cur- 
ing pains  etc  by  metallic  touch.  Perkins  has  been  here  &  when 
about  to  depart  communicated  the  secret  to  two  Doctors. 

The  poetry  about  a  sale  &c  is  founded  in  fa6t  the  piazza 
at  Semmes'  Tavern  fell  during  a  sale.  T--V--S  is  Travers 
an  audlioneer.  If  you  see  M' Green  give  the  papers  to  him. 
You  will  have  commenced  your  course  in  College  before  this 
reaches  you  give  my  respects  to  Mr  Caldwell  D"^  M  Lane 
M"^  Agnew  your  room  mates. 

I  wish  a  detail  of  every  interesting  occurence  &  almost  every 
thing  concerning  your  affairs  will  continue  for  a  long  time  to 
interest  me  With  esteem  &  regard 

I  am  your  sincere  friend 
M-'HoBAi.T  D  English 

Superscription  : 

Geo.  Town  May  1 1 

Mr  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton,  N  Jersey 

Endorsement  : 

May  loth  1796. 

ANNOTATIONS 

This  appears  to  be  the  end  of  a  letter,  the  former  part  of  which  is 
missing. 

L  199  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Henry  Lee. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Lee  family  in  Virginia  was  Richard  Lee,  who 
came  from  Shropshire,  England,  before  1649.  It  has  had  many  mem- 
bers who  have  been  distinguished  as  statesmen,  diplomatists,  and  sol- 
diers. Among  them  during  that  Revolutionary  period  were  Richard 
Henrj'  Lee  and  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee,  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence ;  William  Lee  and  Arthur  Lee,  \\  ho  conducted  impor- 
tant negotiations  with  foreign  powers  both  at  that  time  and  in  the  early 
days  of  the  Republic. 

Henry  Lee  was  born  at  the  ancestral  home,  Stratford  House,  in 
Westmoreland  County,  on  January  29,  1756.  He  was  graduated  from 
the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1773.  In  1776  he  was  made  a  captain 
in  Colonel  Bland's  Virginia  Volunteers.  He  joined  the  Continental 
Army  in  September,  1777.  He  attracted  the  favourable  notice  of  Gen- 
eral Washington,  w  as  promoted  to  be  major,  and  was  gi\en  command 
of  a  corps  of  cavalry.  For  his  capture  on  August  19,  1779,  of  Paulus 
Hook  (now  New  Jersey),  \\'hich  was  strong!'-  entrenched  and  garri- 
soned, the  thanks  of  Congress  were  given  to  him  on  September  22, 
1779,  and  a  gold  medal  was  ordered  to  be  struck  and  presented  to  him. 
On  November  6,  1780,  he  was  given  by  Congress  the  commission 
of  a  lieutenant-colonel  and  assigned  to  the  southern  army  under  com- 
mand of  General  Nathanael  Greene.  In  all  the  batdes  and  skirmishes 
of  the  campaigns  of  that  army  he  united  daring  bravery  with  intelli- 
gent military  skill. 

His  conduct  at  Guilford  Court  House,  Hobkirk  Hill,  Eutaw  Springs, 
and  in  the  capture  of  Forts  Granby,  Watson,  and  Galpin,  merited 
and  received  high  praise.  He  was  familiarly  known  as  "  Lighthorse 
Harry"  and  "Legion  Harry."  After  serving  throughout  the  war, 
he  became  in  1786  a  member  of  Congress.  In  1791  he  \\as  elected 
governor  of  Virginia,  in  succession  to  Beverly  Randolph.  In  1794  he 
was  commander  of  the  troops  which  put  an  end  to  the  "Whiskey 
Insurrection  "  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1799  he  again  sat  in  Congress,  and 
was  chosen  to  deliver  a  eulogy  upon  Washington.  He  is  the  author 
of  "P'uneral  Oration  upon  President  Washington"  (1799),  deliv- 
ered before  both  Houses  of  Congress,  in  which  occur  the  words,  ' '  The 
man,  first  in  war,  first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow- 
citizens;"  and  of  "War  in  the  Southern  United  States"  (2  vols. 
1812).  He  never  fully  recovered  from  wounds  received  in  quelling 
C    200    ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

a  riot  in  Baltimore  in  1814.  With  the  hope  that  his  heahh  might 
be  restored,  he  made  a  voyage  and  spent  some  time  in  the  West  In- 
dies. Upon  his  return,  while  on  a  visit  to  Mrs.  Shaw,  a  daughter  of 
General  Greene,  at  her  house  on  Cumberland  Island,  near  St.  Mary's, 
Georgia,  he  died,  on  March  25,  1818,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of 
his  age. 

His  son  Robert  Edward  was  born  in  1807,  graduated  from  West 
Point  in  1829,  and  was  distinguished  as  an  officer  in  the  United  States 
Armv,  especially  in  the  Mexican  War.  He  became  the  great  comman- 
der of  the  Army  of  Virginia  in  the  Civil  W^ar,  and  died  as  President 
of  Washington  and  Lee  University,  Lexington,  Mrginia,  on  October 
12,  1870. 

Robert  Gilmore. 

In  the  office  of  the  United  States  engineer  in  charge  of  the  early  rec- 
ords of  the  citv  of  Washington,  there  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  written 
on  February  6,  1797,  by  the  Federal  commissioners  to  Robert  Gil- 
more  of  Baltimore,  containing  information  desired  by  him.  Mention 
is  made  of  maps  enclosed.  Mr.  Gilmore  acted  as  the  agent  of  the  well- 
known  bankers,  the  Messrs.  Willink  of  Amsterdam,  Holland. 

Laying  out  the  City  of  Washington. 

On  July  16,  1790,  the  United  States  Congress  then  sitting  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  after  much  discussion  and  conciliation  of  opposing  in- 
terests, passed  a  bill  locating  the  "Federal  City"  near  Georgetown, 
at  the  falls  of  the  Potomac  River,  on  a  tract  ten  miles  square  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  \\hich  had  been  ceded  by  the  States  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia.  Commissioners  were  appointed  for  laying  out  the  city 
and  erecting  public  buildings  after  a  plan  of  Major  I'Enfant,  a  well- 
known  French  engineer.  The  corner-stone  of  the  Capitol  was  laid  by 
the  President,  General  George  Washington,  on  September  18,  1792. 
It  is  to  those  commissioners  that  Mr.  English  refers. 

Elisha  Perkins. 

Elisha,  a  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  Perkins,  was  born  in  Norwich,  Con- 
necticut, on  January  16,  1741.  He  was  educated  by  his  father,  and 
settled  in  Plainfield,  Connecticut,  as  a  physician,  where  he  had  an 
excellent  practice.  It  was  in  1795  that  he  introduced  his  metallic  trac- 
II    201     ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

tors,  M'liich  ^\■ere  two  instruments  said  to  be  of  peculiar  metallic  con- 
struction, one  resembling  brass  and  the  other  steel ;  they  w  ere  three 
inches  long  and  pointed  at  the  ends.  The  points  of  the  instruments 
were  applied  to  the  part  affected,  and  then  drawn  over  it  for  twentv 
minutes  in  a  downward  direction.  They  were  to  be  used  chiefly  for 
local  inflammation,  pain  in  the  face  and  head,  rheumatism,  and  simi- 
lar diseases.  He  had  a  \ery  large  sale  for  them,  and  received  \\arm 
endorsement  from  the  facultj^  of  three  medical  colleges  as  well  as 
the  approval  of  many  physicians  in  private  practice.  The  medical 
faculty  of  the  Royal  Frederick  Hospital  in  Copenhagen  exj)erimented 
with  the  tractors  and  approved  the  new  method,  which  many  called 
Perkinsian  ;  a  book  was  issued  by  them  on  the  subject.  A  Perkinsian 
institution  under  distinguished  patronage  was  established  in  London 
for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  by  a  son  of  Dr.  Perkins.  About  five  thousand 
persons  were  said  to  have  been  cured.  He  also  invented  an  antiseptic 
medicine,  which  he  used  with  great  success  in  the  yellow  fever  in 
Philadelphia,  and  also  in  the  epidemic  in  New  York  in  1799.  Dr.  Per- 
kins went  to  that  city  and  worked  with  great  zeal  among  the  sick, 
using  his  new  remedy.  After  four  weeks  he  was  taken  ill  of  the  fever, 
and  died  on  September  6,  1799.  His  theory  and  tractors  were  then 
submitted  to  closer  scrutiny  by  English  physicians  and  their  eflicacy 
doubted.  His  remedy  and  tractors  remained  in  use  until  about  1808. 
It  was  demonstrated  that  the  tractors  were  made  of  ordinary  brass 
and  steel  without  any  peculiar  combinations  of  metals. 

Semmes  Tavern. 

This  was  one  of  the  earliest  inns  in  Georgetown,  and  \Aas  the  scene 
of  many  public  meetings.  It  was  kept  by  Joseph  M.  Semmes.  Among 
the  records  of  meetings  held  bj-  the  members  of  St.  John's  Church, 
Georgetown,  is  that  of  one  held  on  January28,  1803,  "for  the  purpose 
of  adopting  regulations  for  building  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church." 
In  the  fall  of  1804,  Mr.  Semmes  leased  the  "Little  Hotel"  on  lot 
No.  5,  square  224,  fronting  on  the  north  side  of  F  Street  and  Sev- 
enth, but  east  of  Fifteenth  Street,  in  Washington.  It  had  been  erected 
in  1795  by  James  Hoban,  the  architect  of  the  President's  house,  and 
Pierce  Purcell. 

No  copy  of  the  paper  containing  an  account  of  the  incident  men- 
tioned in  his  letter  by  Mr.  English  can  be  found  in  the  Library  of 
C    200    -] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

Congress,  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania,  or  other  libraries  where  search  has  been  made. 

John  Travels. 

John  Travers  ^\as  a  member  of  a  Virginian  family.  He  kept  the  first 
hotel  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Washington  of  M'hich  there  is  any 
record.  In  the  "Georgetown  Weekly  Ledger"  of  August  24,  1793, 
he  announced  that  he  had  opened  a  tavern  on  the  Eastern  Branch. 
A  recent  writer,  W.  B.  Bryan  of  Washington,  a  zealous  student 
of  local  history,  says:  "There  is  some  significance  in  the  locadon  of 
what  \\"as  undoubtedly  the  first  ta\ern  in  the  Neu'  City,  as  it  may  be 
fairly  concluded  that  much  of  the  activity  centered  about  that  section  : 
as  the  population  of  the  city  about  four  years  later  was  estimated  to 
be  about  2000,  it  is  evident  that  at  that  time  there  were  comparatively 
few  people  li\  ing  in  the  stretch  of  four  miles  between  the  Eastern 
Branch  and  Georgetown." 

Richard  M.  Green. 

Mr.  Green  \\  as  Richard  M.  Green,  who  was  graduated  from  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  in  1794.  He  was  a  brother  of  Charles  D.  Green, 
who  graduated  in  1787,  and  became  a  farmer  after  graduation,  dying 
in  1853,  before  November  12;  on  which  date  the  "Presbyterian" 
published  notice  of  his  decease.  He  married  Mary  Henderson,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Henderson  of  Freehold,  New  Jersey.  She  died  at  Law- 
renceville.  New  Jersey,  January  13,  1849,  aged  sixty-nine. 

Joseph  Caldwell. 
For  notice  see  page  99. 

Johi  Maclean. 

The  Dr.  McLane  referred  to  is  John  Maclean,  for  notice  of  whom  see 

page  169.  In  these  letters  his  name  is  generally  spelled  "McLane." 

James  Agneu\ 

James,  a  son  of  Daniel  Agnew,  was  graduated  from  the  College  of 
New  Jersey  in  1795  with  honours.  He  studied  medicine  in  Phila- 
delphia under  Dr.  Maclean,  father  of  President  Maclean  of  the  col- 
lege. He  also  attended  the  lectures  in  the  Philadelphia  Medical  School, 

[    203    ^ 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

from  which  he  Mas  graduated  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine 
in  1800,  but  remained  to  perfect  himself  in  hospital  practice.  He  com- 
menced his  life  as  a  physician  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  Here  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  B.,  daughter  of  Mayor  Richard  Ho\\ell,  afterward  goy- 
ernor  of  New  Jersey.  In  1810  he  went  to  Mississippi,  where  he  found 
an  excellent  field  for  his  profession.  Returning  in  1813  for  his  fam- 
ily, he  settled  in  Pittsburgh,  as  his  wife  could  not  endure  the  perils  of 
flatboat  trayel  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi.  He  built  up  a  yery 
large  practice,  and  \yas  known  far  and  wide  as  a  physician  of  ac- 
curate knowledge  and  considerate  attention  to  his  patients.  He  died  in 
1840.  A  son,  the  Hon.  Daniel  Agnew,  became  chief  justice  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 


I    204    ] 


WALTER  MINTO 

WALTER  MiNTO  ^\as  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  graduate  of 
the  University  of  Edinburgh.  He  turned  his  attention  to  scien- 
tific studies  and  made  several  mathematical  and  astronomical  discover- 
ies of  great  value.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Ashbel  Green  as  professor 
of  mathematical  and  natural  philosophy,  and  Gilbert  T.  Snowden, 
tutor  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  on  April  18,  1787,  two  tutors  were 
appointed  in  their  places.  At  the  meeting  of  the  board  in  connection 
with  the  Commencement  on  September  26,  1787,  Dr.  Minto  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  vacant  professorship.  He  was  a  verv  real  addition  to  the 
faculty ;  he  had  an  aptitude  for  teaching  and  gaining  the  approba- 
tion of  the  students.  He  died  in  1796. 


LS.1  R' 


[  \Valter  Minto  to  ^^^ILLIAM  Stewart  ] 

ECEIVED  i6'h  May  1796  of  Mr.  W"^.  Stewart  of 
the  Freshman  class  Twenty  three  dollars  331^ 
cents  in  full  for  Entrance  tuition  and  room-rent  &c  the 
present  session.         dolls.         cents. 

W.  Minto  treasurer  of  college. 


ANNOTATION 

IVilliam  Stewart. 
For  notice  see  page  217. 


C  205  ] 


JOSEPH  REED 

JOSEPH,  a  son  of  General  Josepli  Reed,  president  of  Pennsylva- 
nia University,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  July  H,  1772.  After 
graduating  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1792,  he  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  gained  an  extensive  practice  by 
his  skill  and  precision.  For  many  years  he  was  recorder  of  the  city 
of  Philadelphia.  He  died  on  March  4,  1846.  His  edidon  of  the  Laws 
of  Pennsylvania  was  published  in  fi\e  volumes,  from  1822  to  1824. 


[  Fro.m  Joseph  Reed  ] 

Sir 

I  FEEL  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  letter  of  yester- 
day—  Some  days  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  my  brother 
Dennis  expressing  a  Wish  to  leave  College  I  immediately 
answered  his  letter,  and  informed  him  that  such  a  meastire 
would  never  meet  with  my  approbation,  since  which  I  have 
not  heard  from  him.  I  flatter  myself  that  he  is  now  convinced 
of  his  error  and  restimed  his  studies — I  am  induced  to  suppose 
your  letter  was  written  before  he  received  mine. 

I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  whether  he  has  yet  joined 
his  Class — You  and  Do6lor  Minto  will  be  pleased  to  accept 
my  thanks  for  your  attention. 

I  am  Sir 

Your  Hum''  St: 

Jos:  Reed 

Phil  May  20  1796. 

Mr.  John  H.  Hob  art 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton 


:  206 : 


JOSEPH  REED 

ANNOTATION 

Dennis  de  Berdt  Reed. 

Dennis  de  Berdt  Reed  A\as  graduated  from  the  College  of  NeM'  Jersey 

in  1797.  He  was  made  master  of  arts  in  1800;  he  died  in  1805. 


C   207  -] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Walter  Stewart  ] 

Philadelphia  June  4th  I  796 

Dear  Sir 

YOUR  two  Letters  of  1 2th  &  31st  May  I  had  the  Pleasure 
to  receive. 

The  kind  attention  which  you  have  been  pleas 'd  to  pay  to  my 
Son  since  his  Entrance  at  Princeton,  can  never  be  forgotten 
by  his  Mother  or  myself,  and  the  Judicious  choice  you  made 
in  fixing  Him  in  the  Room  with  Mr  Littlejohn  has  given  us 
the  sincerest  Satisfa6lion. 

Your  last  Letter  however  appears  to  convey  some  Slight  Idea 
as  if  He  was  rather  Volatile,  &  I  fear  not  so  Studious  as  you 
could  Wish,  I  thank  you  sincerely  for  this  hint,  &  shall  by 
Every  means  in  my  power  Impress  on  Him  the  Necessity  of 
Study,  &  the  Care  of  his  Condu6l  in  Every  respe6l. 

At  the  Same  time  I  must  Entreat  you  would  candidly  Inform 
me  If  you  find  He  is  forming  Connexions  in  College  which 
may  lead  Him  into  those  Errors  We  have  all  to  Dread,  as  I 
am  confident  by  my  Cautioning  Him  against  them  that  He 
will  Attend  to  my  Advice,  &  Shun  such  Company  as  you 
might  think  would  prove  Injurious. 

Amongst  such  a  Number  of  young  Lads  there  will  always  be 
found  some  who  not  only  take  a  pleasure  in  Idleness  them- 
selves, but  have  strong  propensitys  to  lead  others  in  the  Same 
Path;  should  William  Unfortunately  form  such  attachments. 
His  future  Prospers  may  be  Entirely  destroyed  by  them,  & 
they  cannot  be  too  strongly  Guarded  Against  by  his  Parents. 
On  you  therefore  my  Good  Sir  I  shall  depend  for  the  Neces- 
sary Information,  &  rest  assured  your  Name  shall  Never  be 
Call'd  in  Question. 

I  hope  to  see  you  by  the  middle  or  latter  End  of  next  week, 

C  208  ^ 


WALTER  STEWART 

in  the  mean  time  I  Inclose  you  Ten  Dollars  which  I  request 
your  keeping  for  the  weekly  allowance  of  my  Son  reimburse- 
ment of  your  Advances  &  for  any  little  thing  He  may  stand  in 
need  of.  I  am  Dr  Sir  With  much  respe6l 

Yr  obed  Servant 

Walter  Stewart 

Superscription: 

M?  John  H.  Hobart,  at  the  College  of  Princetovvn 


C  209  n 


HOBART  CORIUiSPONDENCE 

[  Froji  James  Robertson  ] 

Philad^  June  6,  1796. 

Dear  John, 

IT  has  been  with  much  pleasure  I  have  seen  your  friend 
Mr.  Forsyth  here;  but  I  regret  that  my  engagements  in 
store  have  left  me  so  little  time  to  enjoy  his  agreeable  com- 
pany. The  same  circumstance  have  prevented  mefrom  writing 
to  you  ere  this,  and  as  Mr.  F.  goes  this  morning  I  have  only 
time  at  present  to  mention  that  I  have  sent  by  him  the  books 
you  wrote  to  me  for.  Mr.  Ames's  Speech  has  been  printed  in 
Fenno's  paper  which  I  suppose  you  have  seen,  but  as  it  is  well 
worth  preserving,  and  can  be  done  with  more  convenience 
in  a  pamphlet,  I  have  sent  it.  The  Speech  may  not  appear  to 
such  advantage  in  print  as  it  did  when  delivered,  but  will  still 
bear  a  comparison  with  any  speech,  I  have  ever  seen  pub- 
lished in  America. 

I  have  also  sent  you  a  letter  written  lately  by  the  celebrated 
Mr.  Burke.  I  need  say  little  about  it  as  it  will  explain  itself. 
I  shall  only  observe  that  perhaps  you  are  not  enough  of  an 
aristicrate  to  acquiece  in  all  his  opinions;  yet  I  think,  you  are 
sufficiently  so,  to  perceive  and  admire  the  beauties,  with  which 
this  letter  abounds — Mr.  Brissot  said,  in  a  publication  some 
time  before  his  death  that  the  embellishment  of  language  was 
the  aristocracy  of  literature,  and  that  it  was  unbecoming  a  Re- 
publican to  employ  it.  Should  you  even  agree  with  this  opinion 
of  which  however,  I  much  doubt  it  will  not  lessen  your  plea- 
sure on  the  perusal  of  this  letter,  above  mentioned. 

Mr.  F.  is  just  going  ofF&  I  have  not  time  to  add  more  than 
that  I  am  affe6ly  Yours 

J.  Robertson. 

Superscription: 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart 

[    210    ] 


L\MES  ROBERTSON 

ANNOTATIONS 

Fisher  Ames. 

Fisher,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Fisher)  Ames,  was  born  at  Ded- 
ham,  Massachusetts,  on  April  9,  1758.  He  was  carefully  taught,  al- 
though his  mother  was  left  a  widow  \\hen  he  \\as  six  years  old,  and 
was  in  very  straitened  circumstances.  He  was  graduated  from  Har- 
vard College  in  1774.  After  several  years  spent  in  teaching  school,  he 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  the  eminent  counsellor,  William  Tudor  of 
Boston.  He  \\as  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1781,  and  opened  a  law  office 
in  Dedham.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Massachusetts  Convention  of 
1781,  called  to  consider  the  evils  of  the  depreciated  paper  currency 
and  seek  a  remedy.  A  speech  made  by  him  showed  such  grasp  of 
the  financial  situation,  and  gave  such  convincing  arguments  against 
adopting  the  measures  proposed  which  \\ould  have  been  disastrous, 
that  the  leaders  of  the  Federalist  party  sought  him  out,  commended 
him,  and  when  they  knew  that  the  brilliant  articles  under  the  names 
of  "Lucius  Junius  Brutus"  and  "Camillus,"  which  had  recently  ap- 
peared in  the  Boston  papers,  were  from  his  pen,  they  gave  him  their 
confidence  and  firm  support.  In  1788  he  was  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  also  of  the  Convention  to  ratify  the 
Constitution.  He  was  elected  representative  to  the  first  Congress  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Boston  district,  over  Samuel  Adams,  ' '  the 
most  popular  man  in  New  England."  He  was  reelected  for  eight 
years.  During  the  debate  upon  the  appropriation  for  the  Jay  Treatv 
he  acted  a  very  important  part.  The  Republicans  who  opposed  it  had, 
as  they  thought,  a  clear  majority  of  six.  Mr.  Ames  was  ill  at  his 
lodgings.  When  time  came  for  the  vote,  so  fully  was  he  convinced 
that  the  validity  of  the  Constitution  and  the  welfare  of  the  Republic 
were  involved,  that  he  was  driven  to  the  House  to  make  his  protest. 
In  the  face  of  the  great  opposition,  he  arose,  weak  and  trembling  as 
he  was,  and  delivered  a  speech  which  by  its  pathos,  force,  and  elo- 
quence, held  the  whole  House  in  breathless  admiration.  Its  effect  was 
such  that  an  adjournment  \vas  taken,  lest  the  majority  should  be 
made  a  minority.  At  the  close  of  his  fourth  term  in  Congress,  he 
was  compelled  to  retire  permanently  on  account  of  his  health.  He 
still  retained  his  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  wrote  many  brilliant 
essays  and  papers  upon  them.  He  devoted  himself  to  his  farm  and 

C  211  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

the  raising  of  fine  fruit.  He  died  at  Dedham,  Massachusetts,  on  July 
4,  1808. 

Edmund  Burke. 

Edmund  Burke,  who  was  torn  in  1728  and  died  in  1797,  was  a  man 
not  only  of  great  political  power,  but  also  a  writer  whose  \\orks  are 
both  philosophical  and  practical.  His  opposition  to  the  French  Re\o- 
lution  was  shown  not  only  by  his  speeches  in  Parliament,  but  also  by 
several  pamphlets.  His  first  and  most  elaborate  arraignment  of  the 
Jacobins  is  in  "Reflections  on  the  Revolution  in  France,  in  a  letter 
to  a  French  gentleman,"  which  appeared  in  1790.  It  went  into  many 
edidons  in  England,  and  was  translated  into  French  and  German. 
The  first  American  edition  was  published  under  the  title,  "A  Letter 
from  Edmund  Burke,  with  a  preface  by  Peter  Porcupine,"  Philadel- 
phia, 1796. 

Jean  Pierre  Brissot. 

Jean  Pierre  Brissot  was  born  at  Chartres,  France,  in  1754.  He  was 
educated  for  the  law,  and  on  concluding  his  course  entered  the  ofiice 
of  a  procurator.  The  profession  was  displeasing  to  him,  and  he  soon 
abandoned  it  to  devote  himself  to  literature.  He  was  well  read  in  his- 
tory and  philosophy.  His  earliest  Mork,  which  appeared  in  1780, 
made  his  reputation  and  gained  for  him  the  approval  of  the  most  com- 
petent critics.  It  was  entided  "Theorie  des  Lois  Criminelles."  From 
this  time  he  was  regarded  as  an  authority  upon  the  subject.  As  the 
supposed  writer  of  a  pamphlet  against  the  Queen,  Marie  Antoinette, 
he  was  confined  in  the  Bastille ;  after  four  months  he  was  released 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Duke  of  Orleans. 

As  a  lover  of  liberty  he  was  soon  again  in  danger,  and  went  to  Eng- 
land. He  visited  the  United  States,  where  he  remained  for  some  time. 
He  was  representative  of  a  societj'  for  the  betterment  of  the  negroes 
called  "Societe  des  Amis  des  Noirs."  Upon  his  return  in  1789  he 
was  elected  to  the  National  Assembly  by  the  city  of  Paris.  There  he 
was  a  leader,  and  influenced  all  the  earlier  phases  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  also  added  to  his  influence  by  a  paper  called  "  Le  Patriote 
Francais." 

Brissot  became  the  leader  of  the  partv  known  as  the  Girondists, 

which  was  named  from  the  Province  of  Gironde,  from  which  most  of 

I    212    ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

its  members  came.  It  was  also  known  as  Brissotins,  from  its  head.  He 
was  a  firm  Republican,  and  his  powerful  influence  was  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  French  monarchy,  and  the  prevention  of  war  with  Aus- 
tria and  England,  as  well  as  for  the  spread  of  Republican  principles 
throughout  Europe.  His  moderation  and  opposition  to  the  drastic 
measures  of  the  Montague  or  the  Jacobins  caused  him  to  be  accused 
of  favouring  royalty,  although  he  voted  for  the  death  of  the  king. 
Under  its  accusations,  he  and  his  party  were  deprived  of  power.  With 
twent\-  other  Girondists,  Brissot  was  executed  by  guillotine,  October 
31,  1793. 


C    213   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  John  Conrad  Otto  ] 

Philadelphia  June  1 2'''  1 796 

My  dear  Hobart, 

FROM  my  brothers  long  and  constant  desire  to  quit  the 
study  of  the  languages,  and  a  view,  I  hope,  to  his  interest, 
I  have  at  length  determined  to  alter  his  mode  of  education. 
It  was  my  earnest  wish  to  make  him  a  scholar,  and  I  persisted 
in  it  as  long  as  there  was  a  conceivable  hope  of  eventually  ob- 
taining my  purpose.  His  youth  was  such  that  it  would  have  been 
criminal  to  have  permitted  him  to  regulate  his  conduft  and  ed- 
ucation; but  there  is  a  turn  of  mind  and  disposition  that  must 
always  be  accommodated.  Every  person  is  not  formed  for  dis- 
tin6lion  in  the  literary  world,  and  I  have  long  considered  it  as 
an  impropriety  in  some  parents  to  attempt  to  change  radically 
the  current  of  a  child's  disposition.  The  plan  of  nature  is  com- 
prehensive, and  she  has  fitted  her  children  to  a6l  in  different 
spheres — she  has  given  them  different  talents  &  aptitudes  to 
shine  in  their  respedlive  places.  And  when  it  can  once  be  deter- 
mined from  the  evolution  of  the  mind,  what  station  they  are 
designed  to  fill, their  future  education  should  always  be  accom- 
modated to  it.  To  oppose  the  original  dispositions  of  a  child  is 
to  cut  him  off  from  preferment — particular  callings  are  of  no 
great  importance.  Pope  says  "  a6l  well  your  part,  there  all  the 
honor  hes."  My  brother  appears  to  be  formed  for  a6live  life — 
from  his  early  youth  he  has  been  distinguished  among  his  play- 
fellows by  it.  My  views  are  therefore  to  educate  him  in  that 
manner  that  will  be  most  conducive  to  develope  his  talents  and 
give  an  opportunity  for  preferment.  As  the  situations  in  life  are 
different,  so  should  the  train  of  studies  be.  At  present  he  has 
an  inclination  for  the  sea,  but  I  wish  his  pursuits  to  be  more 
general,  his  application  should  be  diredled  to  something  more 

C  214  n 


JOHN  CONRAD  OTTO 

extensive,  so  that  if  he  should  have  an  aversion  to  this,  it  will 
still  be  in  his  power  to  apply  himself  to  something  else.  Al- 
though an  attention  should  be  bestowed  upon  the  particular 
pursuit  he  has  in  view,  still  there  should  be  a  plan  of  informa- 
tion that  should  be  general.  My  desires  are  that  Dan  shall  re- 
main at  Princeton — that  he  shall  be  under  the  subordination 
of  the  college  rules,  if  this  is  not  contrary  to  your  regulations — 
that  he  shall  live  with  his  brother — that  he  pay  stri6l  attention 
to  the  duties  of  the  society,  provided  his  condu6l  will  permit 
him  to  retain  a  seat.  I  wish  him  to  avoid  bad  and  of  course  idle 
company.  As  to  his  studies,  I  wish  that  you  would  superintend 
them.  I  have  written  to  Jacob  upon  the  subje6l.  Dan  must  learn 
to  write — the  english  grammar — Geography  and  figures.  I 
should  be  highly  gratified  if  you  could  undertake  the  care,  pro- 
vided it  did  not  interfere  with  your  avocations — these  studies 
he  can  recite  in  the  order — as  often,  and  in  such  quantities  as 
you  think  proper.  My  brother  at  Princeton  will  compensate 
you  for  your  trouble.  Afterwards  he  must  learn  some  branches 
of  the  mathematics — I  intend  that  he  shall  continue  at  some 
seminary  until  he  becomes  master  of  these  subje6ls.  I  hope  that 
this  revolution  in  his  studies  will  occasion  a  correspondent  one 
in  his  application,  he  has  no  longer  any  cause  to  complain  — 
it  is  impossible  to  describe  my  solicitude  for  his  welfare.  I  have 
written  to  Jacob  &  Daniel  particularly,  you  will  please  ac- 
quaint the  faculty  of  my  detennination.  I  have  received  a  let- 
ter from  White.  He  is  well  &  very  much  engaged  in  business. 
He  expedls  to  be  married  soon.  Adieu 

Your's  sincerely 

John  C.  Otto. 
M"  John  H.  Hob  art  — 


Supericription  : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton  — 


C    215    ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATIONS 

Quotation  from  Pope. 

This  quotation  is  from  the  Fourth  Epistle  of  Pope's  "  Essay  on  Man." 

The  context  is : 

'■'■Honour  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise; 
Jet  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honour  lies. 
Fortune  in  ?nen  has  some  small  diff'rence  made. 
One  flaunts  in  rags,  one  flutters  in  brocade; 
The  cobbler  apron  d,  and  the  parson  gown  d. 
The  friar  hooded,  and  the  monarch  crowned. 
'■What  differ  more  {you  cry)  than  crown  and  cowl!' 
I'll  tell  you,  friend:  a  wise  man  and  a  fool. 
You'll  find,  if  once  the  monarch  acts  the  monk. 
Or,  cobbler-like,  the  parson  will  be  drunk, 
Worth  makes  the  man,  and  want  of  it  the  fellow; 
The  rest  is  all  but  leather  or  prunella." 

Jacob  Schweighaiiser  Otto. 
For  notice  see  page  195. 

Alexander  JVhite. 
For  notice  see  page  141. 


c  216 : 


WILLIAM  STEWART 

WILLL\M,  a  son  of  General  Walter  and  Deborah  (McClena- 
chan)  Stewart,  was  entered  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey  and 
placed  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Hobart.  The  death  of  his  father  made 
it  necessar}-  for  him  to  remain  at  home  to  settle  the  estate  and  enter 
upon  a  business  career.  In  1802  he  became  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Society  of  the  Cincinnad.  He  died  previous  to  1815,  when 
his  son  Walter  was  enrolled  in  the  society. 


[  From  Williajm  Stewart  ] 

Philadelphia  June  l6''',  1796 

Dear  Sir 

I  Arrived  here  at  12  OClock  on  Tuesday  evening,  when 
I  had  the  misfortune  to  find  my  father  was  no  more,  he 
died  about  one  OClock.  His  disordre  is  not  know'n  though  it  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  billious  fever.  He  was  taken  ill  on 
Tuesday  week  &  had  got  a  great  deal  better  &  had  come  down 
stairs  on  Sunday,  he  was  not  taken  so  ill  till  about  24  hours 
before  he  died  he  was  quite  composed,  &  sensible  till  his  last.  I 
have  lost  the  best  of  fathers  &  a  sincere  friend  he  is  universally 
lamented  both  as  a  publick  &  private  character,  he  was  buried 
yesterday  at  4  OClock,  with  the  honors  of  war,  his  corps  was 
attended  by  the  Cincinnati  &  militia  officers.  My  mother  has 
been  very  very  unwell  since  it  happened  but  is  at  present. 
It  is  impossible  for  me  to  determine  when  I  shall  return  to 
Princeton.  I  am  much  Obliged  to  you  for  the  many  kindnesses 
I  have  reeled  from  you  &  shall  be  very  gratefull  for  them. 
I  will  be  obliged  to  you  to  mention  this  to  Dr.  &  Mrs  Smith 
you  will  please  to  give  my  love  to  Mr.  Littlejohn,  tell  him  I 

II  217  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

shall  write  to  him  very  soon.  You  will  also  remember  me  to 

Mr.  Clark, 

beleive  me  Sir 
I  am  with  the  truest  love  &  respe6l 

Your  ever  affeftionate  Pupil 

Wm,  Stewart 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  Hobart,  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey. 


ANNOTATION 

James  IF.  Clarke. 

James  W.  Clarke,  a  native  of  Bertie  County,  North  Carolina,  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1797.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Commons  of  North  Carolina  from  1802  to  1803, 
and  in  1811  from  Edgecombe  County.  He  was  a  member  of  the  North 
Carolina  Senate  from  1812  to  1814.  From  1815  to  1817  he  was 
a  member  of  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives.  In  1828  he 
was  made  chief  clerk  of  the  Navy  Department  at  Washington.  He 
retired  after  a  short  term  of  service.  He  died  in  1843. 


[   218   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philad.  June  24,  1796. 

Dear  John, 

I  HAVE  sent  by  the  gentleman  who  will  deliver  you  this 
letter  Mr.  Forsyth's  watch  which  he  left  here  to  be  re- 
paired. It  has  been  ready  several  days  but  the  present  is  the 
first  opportunity  that  has  offered.  The  charge  for  repairing  it 
is  ^3.62  which  seems  high.  I  have  however  paid  it  as  we  can- 
not judge  of  the  work  and  from  the  chara61:er  of  the  watch- 
maker, I  believe  he  would  not  charge  more,  than  he  was 
entitled  to. 

I  have  always  had  too  much  occasion  in  my  letters  to  you 
to  make  apologies  either  for  writing  so  seldom;  or  for  the  haste 
in  which  my  letters  were  written.  This  is  as  necessary  at  pre- 
sent, as  at  any  former  time;  but  I  shall  decline  it,  as  you  know 
before-hand  what  it  would  be;  and  besides  as  I  expe61:  soon 
to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  in  Philad.  I  dare  say  I  shall 
be  able  to  set  all  matters  right. 

I  have  been  more  engaged  in  the  store  this  last  spring  than 
usual.  The  most  of  the  business,  however,  is  now  nearly  over; 
and  by  the  begining  of  next  month  there  will  be  very  little 
to  do;  at  which  time  I  promise  myself  much  pleasure  in  your 
company. 

Remember  me  to  Mr.  Forsyth. 

I  am  very  affe6lionately  Yours 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription  : 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart  or,  in  his  absence  to  be  left  with  M".  Robert  M.  Forsyth. 
Princeton. 
Favoured  by 
Mr.  TenBrook 
with  a  Watch. 

C  219  J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATION 

Abraham  Ten  brook 
The  Mr.  TenBrook  alluded  to  is  no  doubt  Abraham  Tenbrook,  who 
was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1784  and  died  in 
1841. 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

PhiladO  July  25,  1796. 

Dear  John 

I  Received  your  two  letters  of  the  13  &  22d  inst.  The  for- 
mer enclosing  Mr.  Nourse's  note  for  $66^  Dollars  which 
is  just  paid.  The  latter  enclosed  a  Drft  on  Ross  &  Simson 
for  one  hundred  &  fifty  Dollars  at  10  days,  which  however 
they  have  promised  to  pay  this  day.  As  the  mail  will  be  closed 
in  a  few  minutes  and  as  your  friend  wanted  the  money,  I  now 
enclose  it,  as  I  entertain  no  doubt  but  the  Drft  will  be  paid. 
This  circumsstance  must  be  my  excuse  for  the  shortness  of  this 
letter.  I  hope  soon  to  make  amends,  as  well  as  for  my  former 
deficiencies. 

Mr.  &  Mrs  Smith  returned  on  friday  last  in  good  health  from 
the  sea-shore.  Your  Mama  has  written  to  you  by  this  mail. 
I  am  my  dear  John, 

Yours   James  Robertson. 

As  I  could  not  send  exa6lly  the  amount  of  Mr.  Nourse's  note, 
I  have  sent  $65.  the  difference  I  can  settle  with  you  when  I  see 
you. 

6  Notes — 20  ea.  ^120 
9       "     — 10—       90 

1       "     —   5  —  5 

?215  — 

C  220  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 
I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  that  receive  it.  I  am  in  haste. 

Superscription : 

Mr  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Joseph  Noiirse. 

Joseph  Nourse  was  born  in  London,  England,  on  July  16,  1754.  He 
came  to  Virginia  with  his  parents  in  1769.  In  March,  1776,  he  entered 
the  army  as  secretary  to  General  Charles  Lee,  \\  ho  was  organizing  the 
Mrginia  cavalry.  He  served  as  assistant  adjutant-general's  clerk  and 
paymaster  of  the  Board  of  War  from  1777  to  1781,  and  was  regis- 
trar of  the  United  States  Treasury  from  1781  to  1829.  He  Mas  care- 
ful, honest,  scrupulous,  exact,  and  had  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  him.  He  died  at  his  home  near  \^^ashington,  now  a  part 
of  the  site  of  the  cathedral  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  Mount  St.  Alban, 
on  September  1,  1841,  in  his  eighty-eighth  year. 

Ross  &  Simso?i. 

Charles  Ross  and  John  Simson  were  in  partnership  as  merchants, 

under  this  title,  at  No.  115  South  Front  Street,  Philadelphia. 


[  221  :i 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  David  English  ] 

Upper  Marlboro  Aug".  23.  1796 

Dear  Sir 

I  LEFT  Geo  Town  yesterday  with  an  intention  of  visiting 
Bishop  Claggett  before  my  return  but  I  am  informed  he 
passed  thro  here  a  day  or  two  ago  on  his  way  to  Baltimore, 
so  that  I  shall  return  with  some  degree  of  disappointment  as 
I  expe6led  to  have  found  there  several  of  the  fairest  part  of 
creation  viz.  The  reli6l  of  Parson  Chew  &  his  sister  besides 
the  Bishop's  accomplished  daughters.  I  called  this  morning  at 
M''  Digge's  but  M"^  Lamercy  was  not  up  it  being  very  early, 
I  shall  see  him  on  my  return.  I  had  the  honor  of  a  transient 
sight  of  the  greatest  man  on  earth  when  he  passed  thro  Geo. 
Town  on  his  way  to  the  seat  of  government.  The  buildings 
in  the  city  of  Washington  I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  as 
I  came  thro  it  yesterday  The  Presidents  house  has  progressed 
very  little  lately  tho  there  are  a  few  hands  at  work  at  it.  The 
Capitol  has  risen  considerably  within  a  few  weeks  &  has  a  very 
handsome  appearance,  the  exterior  wall  is  above  the  windows 
of  the  first  Story.  Several  houses  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Presidents  &  so  on  to  the  capitol  have  been  carried  up  from 
former  foundations.  South  of  the  Capitol  &  near  the  Eastern 
branch  Morris  &  Nicholson's  block  of  houses  (consisting  of 
30  perhaps  it  is  a  considerable  number  but  I  am  not  posi- 
tive of  the  number)  have  risen  rapidly.  Upon  the  whole  there 
is  less  by  far  in  the  building  line  than  some  other  season's. 

M'  M'^Cormick  has  removed  to  the  city  &  is  associated  with 
M^  Ralph.  M"^  Davis  who  teaches  the  Academy  here  is  study- 
ing under  the  Bishop  he  was  educated  at  Carlisle  &  is  to 
remove  to  the  Cool  Spring  Seminary  shortly  as  an  assistant 
to  M'  Hatch  Dent,  the  good  parson  I  have  mentioned  to  you, 

C    222    '] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

&  who  went  to  N  Carolina  but  being  tired  of  the  place  has 
returned. 

I  made  an  excurtion  to  Bath  a  few  weeks  ago  a  particular 
description  of  which  I  expe6l  M""  Caldwell  gave  you  &  how 
happy  I  was  in  finding  good  patriots  in  Washington  county, 
they  are  also  good  patriots  in  this  place  &  if  the  President 
declines,  will  choose  as  an  Ele6tor  of  President  &  V.  P.  a  man 
in  favour  of  Jefferson  in  preference  to  the  late  Gov'.  Lee.  In- 
form me  of  the  detennination  of  the  honors  at  an  early  date 
&  give  me  all  the  information  you  can,  the  post  has  come  & 
I  must  conclude  with  presenting  my  respefts  to  M'  Caldwell 
D'  M'^L,  D^  Minto  &  family,  &  M"^  Forsyth 

D  English 

Superscription : 

M*  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton,  N  Jersey 


ANNOTATIONS 

Thomas  Claggett. 

Thomas  John,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Claggett,  was  born  in 
Prince  George's  County,  Maryland,  on  October  2,  1743.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1764,  and  studied  theology 
under  the  direction  of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Eversfield.  He 
sailed  for  England  in  1767,  and  was  made  deacon  by  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don (Dr.  Richard  Terrick)  on  September  2,  1767,  and  was  ordained 
priest  on  October  11,  1767,  by  the  same  prelate.  On  his  return  he 
became  curate  of  St.  Anne's,  Annapolis,  and  in  1768  incumbent  of  All 
Saints',  Calvert  Count}'.  In  1776  he  ceased  to  officiate,  as  he  would  not 
recite  the  praj-ers  for  the  King  and  the  Royal  Family,  and  retired  to 
his  paternal  estate  in  Prince  George's  County.  In  1779  he  commenced 
to  officiate  in  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's  County.  In  1 78 1  he  was  rec- 
tor of  Queen  Caroline,  Anne  Arundel  County,  and  the  following  year 
rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's  County.  In  1786  of  St.  James's, 
Anne  Arundel,  and  again  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's  County.  On 
May  31,  1792,  he  was  elected  Bishop  of  Maryland,  and  consecrated 
C    223    '} 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

in  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  on  September  17,  1792,  bv  the 
Bishop  of  New  York,  Dr.  Provoost,  assisted  by  the  Bishops  of  Con- 
necticut, Dr.  Seabury,  Pennsylvania,  Dr.  White,  and  Virginia, 
Dr.  Madison.  In  this  consecration,  the  first  in  the  American  Church, 
were  united  forever  the  English  and  Scottish  lines  of  Episcopal  suc- 
cession. After  an  episcopate  of  acti\ity  and  dignity,  ha\ing  the  aid 
of  a  sufiragan  for  two  years  from  1814  to  1816,  he  rested  from  his 
labours  on  August  2,  1816,  at  his  home  near  Upper  Marlboro,  in  the 
seventy-third  year  of  his  age,  the  forty-ninth  of  his  ministry,  and  the 
twenty-fourth  of  the  episcopate.  During  the  first  session  of  the  Senate 
in  the  city  of  Washington  in  1800,  Bishop  Claggett  was  its  chaplain. 
On  All  Saints'  Day,  1898,  with  an  appropriate  service  conducted 
by  the  Bishop  of  Washington,  Dr.  Satterlee,  the  remains  of  Bishop 
Claggett  and  his  wife  were  deposited  in  a  vault  in  St.  Alban's  Church, 
Mount  St.  Alban,  Washington.  They  had  been  removed  from  their 
original  resting-place  in  the  churchyard  of  Crome,  Maryland,  with 
the  consent  of  the  Bishop's  descendants.  It  is  the  intention  to  provide 
for  them  a  suitable  shrine  in  the  cathedral  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul, 
now  building  on  Mount  St.  Alban. 

Parson  Chezv. 

Thomas  John,  a  son  of  Colonel  Samuel  Lloyd  and  Priscilla  (Clag- 
gett) Chew,  was  born  in  1769  at  the  family  home  in  Upper  Bennett, 
Calvert  County,  Maryland.  The  family  had  long  been  known  and 
honoured  in  Virginia  and  Marjdand,  from  the  day  in  1622  when  John 
Chew  of  Chewstown,  Somersetshire,  England,  arrived  in  the  Sea 
Flower  and  settled  at  James  City,  Virginia.  Removing  to  Maryland  in 
1642,  he  became  the  ancestor  of  a  distinguished  line  of  jurists,  soldiers, 
and  statesmen.  Colonel  Chew  was  a  man  held  in  very  high  esteem. 
He  was  a  staunch  patriot  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  Army.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Federation  of  the  Freemen  of  Maryland,  and 
colonel  of  the  state  militia.  His  sons  were  well  educated  by  pri\ate 
tutors,  and  at  good  schools. 

Mr.  Chew  pursued  his  studies  for  the  ministry  under  his  uncle,  the 
Rev.  Thomas  John  Claggett,  the  future  Bishop.  He  was  made  deacon 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  White,  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  on  September  19, 
1790.  He  took  charge  of  All  Saints'  Parish,  Calvert  County,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1792  he  accepted  the  rectorship  of  St. 
C    224    ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

James's  Parish,  Anne  Arundel  County.  He  died  in  1793  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years. 

He  married  Margaret  Crabb  Johnes.  She  was  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Colonel  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Hollyday)  Johnes,  a  large  land-owner. 
The  site  of  the  White  House  at  Washington  was  a  part  of  his  pro- 
perty. Mr.  Chew  left  no  children.  Mrs.  Chew,  in  1799,  married  Colonel 
W^ashington  Bower,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Georgetown,  District  of 
Columbia.  He  died  in  1825.  His  widow  died  on  July  22,  1840. 

The  allusion  is  evidently  to  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Chew,  as  Colonel  Chew 
had  no  daughters. 

Bishop  Claggett's  Daughters. 
Bishop  Claggett  had  three  daughters : 

Mary  Anne,  born  September  8,  1776,  who  married  John  Evers- 
field,  and  died  on  August  28,  1810.  She  is  buried  in  the  old  Clag- 
gett plot,  near  Crome,  in  Prince  George's  County. 

Priscilla  EIlizabeth,  who  married  John  H.  Chew.  She  died  in  1843, 
leaving  seven  children.  Descendants  of  some  of  them  are  now  living. 

Elizabeth  Laura,  born  March  3,  1787;  married  Josias  Young  of 
Prince  George's  County.  She  died  in  November,  1864,  and  is  buried 
in  the  old  Claggett  plot. 

Mrs.  Digges. 

The  name  of  Digges  is  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  honourable  in 

Prince  George's  County,  Maryland ;  the  manor  house  stood  upon  a 

bluff  overlooking  the  Patuxent.  It  is  also  found  in  other  parts  of  the 

state. 

"Mrs.  Digges"  may  possibly  be  "Catherine  Digges,  relict  of 
George  Digges  of  Warburton,  and  daughter  of  Robert  and  Anna 
Brent,  born  in  Stafford  County,  Virginia.  Died  at  Washington  City, 
District  of  Columbia . ' '  She  is  buried  near  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
at  Rock  Creek,  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  known  as  the  ' '  Nancy 
Carroll  Chapel,"  which  was  built  by  Anne,  sister  of  Charles  Carroll 
of  Carrollton,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 


i    225    "2 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Mr.  Lamer cy. 

This  gentleman  seems  merely  to  have  been  a  sojourner,  as  his  name 

does  not  appear  on  any  records  or  documents  preserved  in  Maryland. 

The  President  in  August,  1796. 

At  this  time  George  Washington  was  President.  His  second  term 

ended  March  4,  1797,  when  he  retired  to  Mount  Vernon. 

Robert  Morris  and  John  Nicholson. 

Robert  Morris,  "the  financier  of  the  Revolution,"  as  he  has  been 
fitly  styled,  invested  largely  in  lands  in  the  federal  city.  His  latest  bi- 
ographer says :  ' '  The  original  holders  of  the  land  deeded  it  to  trus- 
tees, who  were  to  lay  out  the  streets  and  squares  and  lay  ofl' what  was 
wanted  for  the  use  of  the  government.  Another  part  was  also  assigned 
to  the  government,  which  part  was  to  be  sold  in  order  to  pay  the 
original  proprietors  for  what  land  had  been  assigned  to  the  United 
States,  and  to  provide  for  the  improvements.  Not  many  lots  were 
sold  until  1793,  when  Robert  Morris  and  James  Greenleaf  bought 
six  thousand  lots  at  eighty  dollars  each,  for  which  they  were  to  pay 
in  seven  annual  installments,  without  interest,  commencing  May  1, 
1794.  They  agreed  to  build  annually  twenty  brick  houses,  two  stories 
high,  and  covering  twelve  hundred  square  feet  each.  In  1794  John 
Nicholson  took  a  share  in  the  contract." 

Andrezv  Thomas  McCormick. 

Andrew  Thomas  McCormick  was  born  in  Ireland  and  brought  up  as 
a  Presbyterian.  He  conformed  to  the  Church,  and  was  made  deacon 
by  theRt.  Rev.  Dr.Claggett,  Bishop  of  Maryland,  on  June  15,  1794. 
When  he  was  ordained  priest  is  not  on  record.  He  became  assistant  in 
Queen  Anne  Parish,  Prince  George's  County,  Maryland.  In  1796  he 
took  charge  of  a  school  in  the  new  city  of  Washington.  It  was  evidentlj' 
of  a  higher  grade  than  any  in  the  vicinity.  The  Re^'.  George  Ralph, 
his  predecessor  in  the  school,  had  resigned  to  take  charge  of  the  newly 
organized  parish  of  Washington,  known  as  Christ  Church.  He  had 
been  elected  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  vestry,  on  May  25,  1795. 

Mr.  McCormick  published  in  two  successi\e  issues  of  "  The  \^'^ash- 
ington  Gazette,"  in  January,  1797,  this  advertisement: 

c  226 :] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 


Washington  School 


Re\'.  /\ndrew  T.  McCormick,  successor  to  the  Rev.  George  Ralph, 
respectfully  acquaints  the  public,  that  he  is  now  prepared  for  the  re- 
ception of  Day  Scholars  &  also  of  a  feu-  Boarders.  The  English,  Latin 
&  Greek  Languages,  w  ith  Geography,  Writing  &.  Arithmetic  are  in- 
cluded in  his  present  plan  of  Education  —  Particular  attention  will  be 
paid  to  English  Grammar  &.  the  pronunciation  of  this  language,  agree- 
able to  the  best  &  most  approved  standards ;  parts  of  literature,  tho 
\er\  necessary  yet  too  much  neglected,  in  some  of  our  best  seminaries. 
Terms  may  be  known  by  application  to  Mr.  McCormick,  President's 
Square,  near  the  little  Hotel. 
Dec.  9,  1796. 

In  1798  Mr.  McCormick  became  assistant  in  the  parish.  On  May 
4,  1806,  he  was  elected  rector.  He  resigned  in  1823.  He  appears  to 
have  been  an  excellent  schoolmaster  and  an  acceptable  pastor.  He  was 
chaplain  to  the  United  States  Senate  at  three  different  times.  He  died 
in  1840,  being  seventy  years  old. 

George  Ralph. 

George  Ralph  came  from  England  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  he 
opened  a  school  in  1790.  He  was  made  deacon  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
White,  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  on  October  16,  1791.  He  officiated 
frequently  in  Baltimore  until  1793,  when  he  became  rector  of  North 
Sassafras,  Cecil  County,  and  South  Sassafras,  Kent  Coimty,  and  had  a 
large  school.  In  1795  he  became  rector  of  W^ashington  Parish,  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  where  he  opened  a  school.  In  1797  he  removed 
to  Queen  Anne  Parish,  Prince  George's  County,  and  here  also  he  kept 
a  school  of  high  grade.  In  1800  he  was  principal  of  Charlotte  Hall  and 
rector  of  Trinity,  Charles  County,  and  in  1801  of  All  Faith's,  St. 
Mary's  County.  In  1809  he  opened  an  academy  in  Baltimore  County, 
and  in  1810  became  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Baltimore.  In  1812  he 
resigned  his  parish  and  devoted  all  his  time  to  his  school. 

A  recent  writer  says  of  him  :  "In  an  unmarked  grave  at  'Pomona,' 

once  the  home  of  Robert  Riddell,  lies  the  body  of  the  Rev.  George 

Ralph,  a  native  of  England.  He  started  as  a  teacher  in  Baltimore,  in 

1790,  was  ordained  by  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1791,  and 

C    227    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

held  the  position  as  rector  of  several  country  churches,  with  \\hich  the 
duties  of  school  teacher  were  in  most  cases  attached.  He  was  for  sev- 
eral years  principal  of  Charlotte  Hall  school,  in  St.  Mary's  county, 
entering  upon  his  duties  there  in  1801.  A  quaint  building,  still  stand- 
ing on  the  ground  and  called  the  'White  House,'  was  built  by  him. 
This  is  his  only  monument.  He  w  as  of  Irish  descent,  and  had  the 
proverbial  eloquence  of  his  race.  He  married  Miss  De  Butts,  niece 
of  Dr.  Butts,  of  Mt.  Welby,  Prince  George's  county,  and  left  t\\  o 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  He  died  in  May,  1813. 

"Upon  his  death  the  youngsters  of  the  neighborhood  thought  that 
some  rites  of  their  own  were  necessary  in  order  to  exorcise  so  indom- 
itable a  spirit.  Therefore,  A\ith  much  labor  they  deposited  a  huge  stone 
over  his  gra\e  to  keep  him  from  rising  again.  Another  story  is  told  of 
him,  in  reference  to  an  altercation  he  had  \\  ith  Mr.  Key,  while  he  \\  as 
principal  of  the  Charlotte  Hall  school.  The  latter  exclaimed  in  his 
wrath,  'Were  it  not  for  your  cloth  I  should  fight  you,'  whereupon 
the  reverend  gentleman  took  off  his  coat  and  threw  it  on  the  ground 
saying,  'Lie  there  divinity  while  I  chastise  rascality.'"  {^Historic 
Graves  of  Maryland^  p.  125.] 

Henry  Lyon  Davis. 

Henry  Lyon  Davis  was  a  native  of  Charles  County,  Maryland.  Hewas 
made  deacon  March  12,  1797,  by  Bishop  Claggett.  He  became  princi- 
pal of  Charlotte  Hall  School  and  rector  of  All  Faith's  Parish,  St.  Mary's 
County  ;  in  1801  rector  of  King  and  Queen  Parish,  in  the  same  county  ; 
and  in  1802  rector  of  Charles,  Charles  County.  In  1804  he  removed 
to  Cecil  County  and  became  rector  of  North  Sassafras.  In  1816  he 
accepted  the  rectorship  of  St.  Anne's,  Annapolis,  and  was  succes- 
sively, in  addition  to  his  parochial  duties,  vice-principal  and  princi- 
pal of  St.  John's  College.  For  twenty  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
standing  committee,  eight  years  secretary  of  the  Convention,  Conven- 
tion preacher,  and  twice  a  deputy  to  the  General  Convention.  He 
served  as  editor  of  "The  Christian  Messenger."  In  1826  he  removed 
to  Delaware,  where  he  died  in  1836. 

Hatch  Dent. 

Hatch  Dent  was  born  in  Trinity  Parish,  Charles  County,  Maryland. 

He  served  as  an  officer  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  made  deacon  by 

C    228    ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

the  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  Dr.  Samuel  Seabury,  in  Trinity  Church, 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  on  Sunday,  October  16,  1785,  and  ordained 
priest  by  the  same  prelate  on  Tuesday,  St.  Luke's  Day,  October  18, 
1785.  He  Ijecame  rector  of  Trinity  Parish  in  his  native  county  ;  for  one 
year,  1797-98,  William  and  Mary  Parish  in  the  same  countA'  was 
under  his  care.  His  private  school  greu  into  the  well-kno\vn  Charlotte 
Hall  School,  of  which  he  was  the  first  principal.  He  died  in  1800. 
He  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  standing  committee  of  the 
diocese. 

Charlotte  Hall. 

Charlotte  Hall,  in  St.  Marv's  Countv,  Maryland,  was  famed  for  heal- 
ing springs  even  in  colonial  days.  Here  were  built,  at  the  public  ex- 
pense, homes  for  such  poor  impotent  persons  as  should  repair  "to  the 
Fountain  of  Healing  Waters  called  the  Cool  Springs."  It  Avas  at  this 
place  that  the  Rev.  Hatch  Dent,  with  others,  founded,  in  1796,  the 
school  known  as  Charlotte  Hall  School,  but  also  called  Cooling  Springs 
Seminary. 

Thomas  Jefferson. 

Thomas  Jefferson  was  born  at  Shad  well,  Albemarle  County,  Vir- 
ginia, on  April  13,  1743.  He  was  graduated  from  William  and  Mary 
College,  Virginia,  in  1762.  In  1767  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
attained  success.  In  1769  he  became  a  member  of  the  House  of  Bur- 
gesses. In  1774  he  w-as  chosen  a  delegate  to  a  convention  to  consider 
the  affairs  of  the  colony.  Unable  to  attend,  he  sent  a  paper,  which, 
published  vmder  the  title,  "A  Summarv  View  of  the  Rights  of  Brit- 
ish North  America,"  had  a  wide  circulation  and  great  influence.  The 
governor  of  Virginia,  Lord  Dunmore,  threatened  him  with  prosecu- 
tion for  high  treason.  In  1775  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  took  a  high  rank  in  that  body  as  a  man  of 
great  legal  knowledge  and  practical  political  sagacity. 

He  was  again  elected  to  the  third  Congress  in  1776,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  of  five  to  prepare  the  draft  of  a  Declaration 
of  Independence.  His  colleagues  were :  Benjamin  Frankhn,  John  Ad- 
ams, Roger  Sherman,  and  Robert  R.  Livingston.  He  was  made  chair- 
man and  requested  to  prepare  the  document  for  submission  to  the 
committee.  With  very  slight  changes  his  draft  was  adopted,  reported 
C    229    H 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

to  Congress  on  June  28,  the  resolution  for  Independence  was  passed 
on  July  2,  and  the  formal  Declaration  was  adopted  on  July  4. 

Resigning  his  seat,  he  declined  the  appointment  to  be  a  member  of 
a  commission  to  France  with  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Silas  Dean.  He 
was  active  in  the  convention  which  formed  a  state  constitution,  much 
of  the  work  upon  it  being  from  his  pen.  In  1779  he  succeeded  Pat- 
rick Henry  as  governor  of  Virginia,  and  remained  in  office  for  two 
years.  In  1783  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  then  sitting  at  Annapo- 
lis, Maryland.  Upon  his  motion  the  decimal  system  of  coinage  was 
adopted.  In  1784  he  went  to  Europe  as  plenipotentiary  with  Frank- 
lin and  John  Adams  to  negotiate  treaties  of  commerce  \\  ith  foreign 
nations.  In  1785  Mr.  Jefferson  succeeded  Franklin  as  Minister  to 
France.  He  had  a  difficult  role,  but  maintained  his  impartiality  as 
ambassador  \\ith  much  tact  during  the  early  months  of  the  Revo- 
lution. In  1790  he  returned  to  the  United  States  to  become  Secretary 
of  State  in  Washington's  Cabinet,  to  which  he  had  been  appointed 
the  previous  year.  In  1794  he  withdrew  to  his  estate  at  Monticello 
and  interested  himself  in  scientific  farming  and  study. 

At  the  election  held  in  November,  1796,  the  Federalists  nominated 
the  Hon.  John  Adams,  then  Vice-President,  and  the  Republicans  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  had  been  Secretary  of  State  in  Wash- 
ington's Cabinet.  The  contest  was  close  and  bitter.  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  and  Mr.  Jefferson  became  Vice-President,  according  to  the 
custom  then  in  vogue,  that  the  person  receiving  the  next  highest  num- 
ber of  votes  to  the  successful  candidate  should  be  the  Vice-President. 
In  1801,  after  the  failure  of  an  election  by  the  people,  the  Federalist 
candidates  being  President  Adams  and  the  Hon.  Charles C.  Pinckney, 
he  was  elected  by  Congress  as  President  Avith  the  Hon.  Aaron  Burr 
as  Vice-President.  His  administration  was  brilliant.  Louisiana  Mas 
purchased  from  France  ;  Ohio  was  admitted  as  a  state ;  the  war  with 
Tripoli  was  prosecuted  with  glory  to  the  navy  of  the  Republic.  ELlected 
for  a  second  term  in  1804,  he  continued  in  the  same  course  as  pre- 
viously, and  by  his  evident  partiality  for  France  strained  relations 
with  England,  which  had  been  overbearing  and  arrogant,  until  the 
embargo  brought  the  country  to  the  verge  of  war.  The  trial  of  Aaron 
Burr  for  treason  in  1807  and  the  prohibition  of  the  slave  trade  are 
among  the  events  which  had  far-reaching  effects.  At  the  close  of  his 
second  term  on  March  4,  1809,  he  retired  from  public  life,  and  spent 

C  230  2 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

the  remainder  of  his  days  at  Monticello,  where  he  improved  his  farms, 
wrote  and  studied,  devised  the  educational  system  of  Virginia,  founded 
at  Charlottesburg  the  Universitv  of  Virginia,  and  kept  open  house 
with  that  courtesy  and  hospitahtv  for  which  Virginia  was  noted.  He 
died  on  July  4,  1826,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  a  few  hours 
before  the  death  of  his  predecessor  in  the  presidency,  John  Adams. 

Henry  Lee. 

For  notice  see  page  200. 


L   231    J 


JOHN  NEILSON  ABEEL 

JOHN  Neilson  Abeel  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
in  1787.  He  was  tutor  from  1791  to  1793.  He  studied  law  under 
Judge  Patterson  of  New  Jersey,  but  finally  determined  to  study  the- 
ology under  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  W.  Livingston  of  New  York.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  April,  1793,  and  went  to  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Philadelphia  as  a  colleague  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Green. 
In  1795  Mr.  Abeel  became  the  colleague  of  Dr.  Li\ingston  in  the 
Collegiate  Dutch  Reformed  Church  in  Garden  Street  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  Under  his  care  his  charge  prospered  greatly.  He  was 
sometimes  called  "the  beloved  disciple,  John."  He  had  a  mind  clear 
and  discerning,  a  voice  sweet,  melodious,  penetrating,  and  a  manner 
that  was  frank  and  winning.  As  a  pastor  he  looked  most  assiduously 
after  his  flock.  Dr.  Abeel  died  on  January  20,  1812. 


[  From  John  Neilson  Abeel  ] 

New  York  30th  Aug —  96  — 

Dear  Sir 

I  AM  sorry  that  it  is  not  fully  in  my  power  to  comply  with 
your  request — When  I  received  your  letter  I  thought  that 
I  should  be  able  to  find  among  my  papers  the  oration  you 
mention  but  whilst  I  was  searching  for  it  recolle6led  that  I 
had  given  it  to  John  Wallis  of  the  last  Senior  Class  in  whose 
possession  it  now  remains.  If  you  can  find  out  where  he  is  and 
procure  it  you  may  make  what  use  of  it  you  please.  The  plan 
of  that  oration  is  good  and  I  believe  new  I  wish  I  could  say 
as  much  for  the  execution.  You  may  however  by  some  cor- 
re6lions  and  additions  make  something  out  of  it  that  will  suit 
Mr  Forsyth's  purpose.  There  are  if  I  am  not  mistateing  some 
incidents  in  that  young  gentleman's  life  which  if  delicately 
touched  in  his  valedi61:ory  would  render  it  highly  interesting. 

C  232  ] 


JOHN  NEILSON  ABEEL 

You  know  better  than  I,  what  they  are  and  will  judge  with 
what  propriety  they  may  bear  to  be  noticed. 
I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  from  time  to  time. 

Your 
Friend 

Jno,  N.  Abeel 
Mr.  Jno.  H.  Hobart 

Superscription : 

Mr  John  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATION 

John  Bradford  Wallace. 

John  Wallis ' '  is  John  Bradford  Wallace,  and  a  member  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Burlington  family.  He  was  a  brother  of  Joshua  Maddox 
Wallace.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1794. 
As  a  student,  his  reputation  for  lessons  well  prepared  and  conduct  that 
was  manly  long  survived.  President  Smith  used  to  say :  "  It  is  indeed 
a  pleasure  to  hear  Mr.  Wallace's  recitations." 

Mr.  Wallace  studied  law,  and  in  1797  was  admitted  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania bar.  Here,  in  competition  with  many  men  of  brilliant  intellect, 
he  won  a  very  high  place.  In  1822  he  removed  to  Meadville,  Penn- 
sylvania. While  there  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
legislature.  He  served  for  three  years.  In  1825  he  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  remained,  with  a  very  large  practice,  until  his  death, 
January  7,  1837.  He  was  a  staunch  Churchman,  useful  and  active 
in  the  affairs  of  the  parish  and  the  diocese,  and  the  Church  at  large. 
Of  his  religious  life  it  is  said  :  ' '  His  piety  was  bright  and  remarkably 
practical ;  a  fervid  and  delightful  sentiment,  it  inspired  in  his  own 
heart  both  love  and  confidence." 


C   233   H 


BENJAMIN  RUSH 

BENJAMIN  Rush  was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  December  24, 
1745.  He  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 
1760.  His  medical  studies  \\ere commenced  in  Philadelphia  and  com- 
pleted under  the  most  skilful  physicians  and  by  the  inspection  of  the 
laest  hospitals  in  Edinburgh,  London,  and  Paris.  In  1769  he  became 
professor  of  chemistry  in  the  Philadelphia  Medical  College.  From  the 
very  beginning  of  his  career  he  was  noted  for  his  care  and  skill  as 
a  physician  and  secured  a  large  practice. 

He  was  a  firm  defender  of  the  rights  of  the  American  colonies,  and 
was  elected  to  the  Continental  Congress,  \vhere  he  advocated  inde- 
pendence, and  signed  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  July,  1776. 
In  April,  1777,  he  was  appointed  surgeon-general,  and  in  July,  phy- 
sician-general of  the  Continental  Army.  He  resigned  a  few  months 
later,  as  he  could  not  stop  the  frauds  upon  soldiers  in  the  hospital 
stores. 

He  was  the  chief  promoter  of  the  Philadelphia  dispensary,  the  first 
in  the  country,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians. A  strong  upholder  of  universal  education,  he  was  acti\e  in  the 
establishment  of  public  schools.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Convention  for  ratifying  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  also  of  that 
which  formed  the  state  constitution.  In  1791  he  became  professor 
of  the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine,  and  in  1797  of  the  practice  of 
physic,  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  During  the  epidemic  of 
yellow  fever  in  the  city  in  1793,  his  sympathy,  devotion,  and  suc- 
cess in  its  treatment  greatly  endeared  him  to  the  people  of  the  city. 

In  1799  he  was  made  treasurer  of  the  United  States  Mint  at  Phila- 
delphia. By  his  personality  as  well  as  his  attainments  he  secured  a 
high  place  as  a  ph3-sician  and  citizen.  His  medical  works  long  were 
standard,  and  brought  to  him  honours  from  several  of  the  European 
monarchs.  Among  them  were:  Medical  Inquiries  and  Observations, 
five  volumes,  1789-1793  ;  Essays,  1798  ;  Diseases  of  the  Mind,  1821. 
He  died  on  April  19,  1813,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 


C   234   ] 


BENJAMIN  RUSH 

[  From  Bexjamix  Rush  ] 

My  Dear  Friend, 

I  WILL  be  at  home  this  evening  at  9  o'Clock,  and  to-mor- 
row morning  at  8,  at  either  of  which  times  it  will  be  agree- 
able to  receive  a  visit  from  you,  and  to  administer  advice  & 
comfort  for  your  body  and  mind. 

From  your  sincere 

&  sympathizing  friend 

Benj"  Rush 

Oftob'  15,  96 
2  O'clock. 

No  superscription. 

Endorsed  in  Hobart's  writing  : 

Note  from  D"  Benj.  Rush,  Philad^  Oft:  is:"-.  1796. 


C  235  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

New  York  Decern.   19,  1796. 

I  DARE  say,  my  dear  John,  you  have  been  very  much 
surprised  at  my  long  silence;  and  I  expe6l  you  will  be 
equally  so,  to  hear  that  I  have  passed  thro'  Princeton  with- 
out seeing  you.  My  journey  to  this  city  was  very  unexpected 
and  my  stay  here  very  short.  I  shall  return  by  the  Mail  stage 
which  will  pass  thro'  Princeton  after  night  so  that  I  shall  not 
be  able  to  see  you,  and  I  could  not  think  of  passing  without 
letting  you  know.  I  left  all  your  friends  in  Philad^  well  on 
Friday  last;  but  none  of  them  had  time  to  write.  Your  Brother 
Robert  was  in  town  at  that  time.  I  am  in  haste,  and  have  only 
time  to  say,  that  you  may  rely  on  hearing  from  me  very  soon 
after  my  return  to  Philad^. 

Affe6\'y  Yours 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription: 

Mr.  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


C  236  ] 


HENRY  AXTELL,  JR. 

HENRY  ^•\xTELL,  the  son  of  Henry  Axtell,  a  farmer  and  Revolu- 
tionary officer,  was  born  at  Mendham,  New  Jersey,  in  1796. 
He  taught  school  some  years  at  Morristown  and  Mendham.  In  1804 
he  went  to  Geneva,  New  York,  and  opened  a  school  w  hich  became 
quite  famous  and  prosperous.  On  November  1,  1810,  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Gene\a.  In  1812  he  was  installed  as 
assistant  to  the  Rev.  Jedidiah  Chapman  of  Geneva,  and  became  his 
successor  in  the  pastorate.  He  was  a  conscientious,  faithful  preacher, 
often  very  powerful  both  in  argument  and  appeal.  He  died  at  Geneva 
on  February  11,  1849. 


[  From  Henry  Axtell,  Jr.  ] 

Mendham  Dec'.  28*  1796. 

Dear  Sir, 

YOU  may  recolle6l  that  during  my  stay  at  M"".  Vandike's, 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  reading  Newton's  letters  to  his 
wife.  I  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  book  that  I  resolved  to 
purchase  it,  if  possible,  for  some  of  my  friends  to  read.  I  have 
accordingly  sent  to  N.  York  for  it  two  or  three  times,  but 
believe  it  is  not  for  sale  in  that  city.  I  have  observed  &  even 
experienced  so  much  of  your  kindness  as  induces  me  to  be- 
lieve you  would  be  willing  to  assist  me  in  procuring  it.  Per- 
haps you  know  who  has  it  for  sale — if  so,  please  to  purchase 
it  &  whatever  it  costs  I  will  pay  you,  besides  compensating 
you  for  your  trouble.  You,  doubtless,  have  frequent  oppor- 
tunities of  sending  to  Philadelphia — I  have  none;  but  I  can 
send  to  Princeton  once  in  a  while — I  would  therefore  thank 
you  to  get  two  of  the  books  from  Phil^.  ( if  they  cannot  be 
found  nearer)  &  I  will  send  for  them  to  Princeton  by  the  first 
chance. 
I  have  also  sent  to  New  York  for  "Shuckford's  conne(5lion 

C  237  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

of  Sacred  &  profane  history"  but  I  cannot  find  it.  If  it  would 
not  be  too  mucli  trouble,  I  would  thank  you  to  inform  me 
whether  you  think  it  is  for  sale  in  this  country.  Or,  if  you 
know  where  it  is  to  be  sold,  perhaps  you  would  be  willing 
to  get  that  also,  with  Newton,  &  send  it  to  me  by  a  safe 
conveyance  from  Princeton.  I  have  no  other  excuse  for  tak- 
ing this  freedom  with  you  but  that  I  can  contrive  no  other 
way  to  procure  these  books,  &  I  know  the  kindness  of  your 
disposition  too  well  to  doubt  your  willingness  to  oblige  me. 

You  have  perhaps  heard  of  my  conclusion  to  stay  in  Mend- 
ham; — my  reason  for  which  was  that  I  did  not  receive  the 
promised  information  from  Maryland  till  more  than  a  month 
after  the  time  appointed,  &  I  had  some  reason  therefore  to 
suppose  that  Capt.  Chesley  had  procured  another  tutor  for  his 
family.  The  people  in  Mendham  were  very  urgent  &  I  at 
length  engaged  to  stay  here  one  year.  Possibly  it  may  be  for 
my  temporal  as  well  as  eternal  welfare.  Religion  begins  to 
revive  in  this  &  the  neighboring  congregations.  The  counte- 
nances of  people  look  serious  &  contemplative.  The  young 
people  in  particular  seem  to  be  uncommonly  concerned  for 
their  future  existence.  About  a  week  ago  seven  persons  ( most 
of  them  young)  were  propounded  in  our  meeting-house,  as 
candidates  for  admission  into  the  Church.  With  regard  to  my- 
self, I  can  only  tell  you  that  I  feel  myself  to  be  an  unbeliever, 
I  have  many  doubts  respe6ting  the  fallen  state  of  man,  the 
necessity  of  an  attonement,  &  the  reality  &  sufficiency  of  the 
one  supposed  to  be  made.  In  short,  I  seem  at  times  to  doubt 
the  truth  of  the  scriptures  in  general.  If  you  will  condescend. 
Sir,  to  favour  me  with  some  hints  upon  the  subje6l,  accom- 
panied with  your  advice,  I  should  be  much  obliged  to  you. 

Please  to  inform  M"^  Thompson  that  his  father  has  been  lately 

troubled  with  the  rheumatism — the  rest  of  the  family  are  well. 

C  238   ] 


HENRY  AXTELL,  JR. 

His  father  says  he  need  not  be  uneasy  about  money ;  for  he 
will  send  him  some  by  the  first  safe  conveyance.  Please  to 
give  my  respe6ls  to  M""  Thompson,  to  M'  Forsyth,  &  when 
you  have  a  chance  to  our  good  friends  at  Mapleton.  I  am, 
Sir 

with  much  respe61  &c 

Henry  Axtell  Jun"^. 

Superscription: 

M".  John  H.  Hobart,  Tutor  in  New-Jersey  College,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

John  J.  Van  Dike. 

John  J.  Van  Dike  w  as  a  native  of  Princeton,  and  a  member  of  the 

company  that  owned  the  Nassau  Hotel  at  that  time. 

John  Newton. 

John  Newton,  the  son  of  a  captain  of  a  trading  vessel,  was  born  in 
London  on  July  24,  1725.  With  very  little  opportunity  for  acquiring 
knowledge,  he  commenced,  at  the  age  of  eleven,  to  accompany  his 
father  on  his  voyages,  which  he  continued  for  six  years.  He  was  then 
entered  into  the  British  navy,  and  made  a  midshipman,  but  for  an 
attempt  to  escape,  was  degraded  and  treated  v\  ith  cruelty.  He  was 
allowed  to  exchange  into  an  African  trader,  joined  a  slaver,  and  in 
three  years  was  mate  of  such  a  vessel.  In  1750  he  was  married,  and 
made  several  voyages  as  master  of  a  slaver.  His  story  of  his  ' '  conver- 
sion "  has  been  often  told  and  is  verj'  graphic.  In  1755  he  became  tide 
surveyor  at  Liverpool.  His  new  convictions  of  Christian  truth  led  him 
to  seek  holy  orders  from  the  Archbishop  of  York  in  1758,  but  his 
request  was  denied.  In  1764  he  was  offered  the  curacy  of  Olney,  and 
in  that  year  was  made  deacon  and  ordained  priest.  Mr.  Newton  had 
adopted  extreme  Calvinistic  views  and\\as  one  of  the  early  Evangelical 
clergymen .  Between  him  and  the  poet  Cowper  there  gre\v  up  a  very 
touching  intimacy.  One  result  A\as  the  volume  known  as  "Olney 
Hymns"  (1779),  of  which  Mr.  Cowper  wrote  sixty-one  and  Mr. 
Newton  two  hundred  and  eightv-six.  Among  his  best-known  hymns 
are  "How  sweet  the  Name  of  Jesus  sounds,"  "Approach,  my  Soul, 
[   239   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

the  Mercy  Seat,"  "One  there  is  above  all  others,"  and"Quiet,  Lord, 
my  froward  heart."  As  an  author,  he  published  "Omicron  "  (1762), 
" Cardiphonia "  (1781),  and  "Authentic  Narrative  of  some  Inter- 
esting and  Remarkable  Particulars  in  his  own  Life."  This  book  is 
written  in  the  form  of  letters,  and  is  probably  that  referred  to. 
Mr.  Newton  departed  this  life  in  1807. 

Samuel  Shuckford. 

Samuel  Shuckford  was  successively  rector  of  Shelton,  Norfolk,  Eng- 
land, and  of  All  Hallows,  London.  He  was  honoured  by  KingGeorgell, 
who  made  him  one  of  his  chaplains.  His  best-known  work  \\as  pub- 
lished in  four  volumes  in  1727  under  the  title  :  "  Shuckford's  Sacred 
and  Profane  History  of  the  World  Connected,  from  the  Creation  of 
the  World  to  the  Dissolution  of  the  Assyrian  Empire  at  the  death  of 
Sardanapalus,  and  to  the  Declension  of  the  Kingdom  of  Judah  and 
Israel  under  the  reigns  of  Ahaz  and  Pekah,  with  the  treatise  on  the 
Creation  and  Fall  of  Man."  It  is  one  of  the  standard  publications  of 
the  University  Press,  Oxford.  An  edition  was  published  in  1848.  It 
was  intended  to  be  a  continuation  of  Dean  Prideaux's  famous  book, 
"The  Connection  of  the  History  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament, 
1715  to  1717."  The  twenty-seventh  edition  appeared  in  1876. 

Stephen  Thompson. 

Stephen  Thompson  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  Ne\\'  Jersey 
in  1797.  He  studied  for  the  ministry,  was  ordained,  and  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Connecticut  Farms,  New  Jersey,  on  June 
15,  1802.  In  1834  he  removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  died  on  May 
31,  1856. 

The  Chesleys. 

The  home  of  the  Chesleys  is  Chesley  Hill,  overlooking  the  Patuxent 
River,  in  St.  Mary's  County,  Maryland.  It  is  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road  leading  from  Charlotte  Hall  to  the  "Plains."  The  members  of 
the  familv  have  always  occupied  prominent  positions,  and  have  been 
judges,  counsellors,  legislators,  and  soldiers. 

Robert,  a  grandson  of  the  Hon.  John  Chesley  of  Chesley  Hill,  was  a 

captain  during  the  Revolution,  and  served  as  major  or  colonel  in  the 

War  of  1812.  He  was  known  by  his  friends  as  "Handsome  Bob." 

[    240    ^ 


HANNAH  (PRATT)  HOBART 

BY  the  death  of  her  husband,  on  October  27,  1776,  Mrs.  Hobart 
^vas  left  with  five  young  children,  one  onh'  a  year  old,  to  bring 
up,  educate,  and  properly  place  in  the  world.  Captain  Hobart,  who 
had  been  a  successful  trader  to  the  West  Indies,  had  retired  some 
years  before  his  death  A\ith  what  is  styled  ' ' a  \ery  moderate  compe- 
tency." His  widow  lived  in  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolution,  when 
all  mercantile  enterprise  was  necessarily  interrupted.  That  she  suc- 
ceeded in  properly  training  all  her  children  in  both  secular  and  reli- 
gious knowledge,  and  that  for  her  youngest  son,  by  personal  self- 
denial  and  Aery  careful  management,  she  provided  the  best  education 
that  could  then  be  obtained,  shows  that  she  had  not  only  sound  com- 
mon sense  and  great  energy,  but  that  deep  and  true  aifection  \vhich  is 
willing  to  endure  all  things  for  those  beloved. 

At  the  time  this  series  of  letters  commences,  her  eldest  son  Robert 
had  taken  charge  of  iron  works  belonging  to  the  family,  at  Potts- 
grove,  or  Pottstown,  in  Montgomery  County,  thirty-seven  miles  north- 
west of  Philadelphia.  It  is  now  a  thriving  town  of  more  than  fifteen 
thousand  population,  several  iron  furnaces,  foundries,  rolling-mills, 
machine  shops,  and  sawmills. 

A  few  letters  from  John  Henrv  Hobart  to  his  mother  and  sister  at 
this  period  will  be  found  in  Dr.  McVickar's  "Early  Years."  [^Pages 
111,  148-150.] 

Letters  from  and  to  his  mother  of  an  earlier  date  will  also  be  found 
in  "Early  Years."  [Pages  24-32,  77-86.] 

Mrs.  Hobart  died  in  May,  1804,  and  w'as  buried  in  Christ  Chtirch- 
yard,  Philadelphia,  May  29. 

The  "  Mr.  Robertson  "  who  is  frequently  mentioned  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  Mr.  Hobart,  then  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Smith,  afterwards 
president  of  the  Richmond  Bank,  Richmond,  Virginia. 


C   241    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Monday  z"",  Janf    1797. 

I  Received  my  dear  John's  two  letters  with  one  enclosed 
to  Do6l^  White  which  I  sent  to  him,  from  the  reasons  you 
assign  I  think  you  were  right  in  declineing  the  proposed  settle- 
ment at  Lancaster,  particularly  as  the  salary  was  so  far  below 
what  you  ought  expe(5l,  but  feel  sorry  you  concluded,  that 
when  you  were  better  prepared  to  take  charge  of  a  congre- 
gation you  shoud  not  consider  it  as  an  obje6tron  that  the  salary 
is  small  or  even  inadequate  to  the  purposes  of  a  maintainance. 
I  fear  my  dear  John  in  that  case  however  well  prepared  you 
might  be  to  enter  on  the  duties  of  your  profession,  you  woud 
soon  find  that  without  a  comfortable  support  you  coud  not 
long  persevere  in  them  with  that  freedom  from  care  which 
woud  be  necessary  to  keep  your  mind  unembarrassed,  for 
beleive  me  my  dear  John  however  lightly  you  may  now  think 
of  the  value  of  money  ( having  never  yet  had  much  reason  to 
know  the  want  of  it)  a  little  experience  woud  soon  convince 
you  that  it  woud  require  much  more  than  you  have  now  an 
idea  of  to  support  you  with  any  degree  of  comfort  or  with  that 
decency  of  appearance  which  woud  be  proper  for  you  to  keep 
up  in  the  world.  I  fear  my  dear  John  you  calculate  too  much 
on  your  own  little  patrimony  to  make  up  deficiences,  it  is  well 
you  have  it,  and  I  hope  and  desire  that  you  will  never  reduce 
the  principal,  if  you  cannot  increase  it,  but  you  must  be  already 
convinced  that  you  have  hitherto  required  considerably  more 
than  the  interest  of  it  to  support  you  in  your  present  situa- 
tion and  in  some  other  circumstances  the  call  woud  be  much 
greater,  but  be  that  as  it  may  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  when- 
ever you  take  the  charge  of  a  congregation,  a  decent  main- 

C  242  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

tainance  shoud  be  the  least  you  ought  to  expedl  exclusive  of 
any  other  dependance. 

Your  brother  was  here  at  the  time  Ja''  Robertson  went  to 
New  York.  I  mentioned  to  him  D""  White's  proposal  and  that 
you  had  it  in  contemplation,  he  was  in  town  but  a  day  or  two. 
I  had  a  few  lines  from  him  yesterday  in  which  he  enquires 
whether  you  are  going  or  not.  I  think  he  woud  be  pleased  to 
hear  from  you,  they  are  well  but  his  situation  far  from  agree- 
able, all  my  resources  from  that  quarter  are  shut  up,  when  it 
will  be  otherwise  I  cant  at  present  see. 

In  your  letter  to  me  which  coverd  your  first  to  Do6l'  White 
you  mentioned  that  you  expe6led  some  arrangements  woud 
in  the  spring  take  place  in  the  College  which  woud  render 
your  situation  there  neither  so  advantageous  or  agreeable  as 
at  the  time  of  your  writing.  I  wish  to  know  what  your  expec- 
tations are  or  whether  any  better  prospe6ls  now,  or  what  plan 
you  have  in  view,  you  will  let  me  know  as  soon  as  you  can 
as  I  am  anxious  about  you. 

I  was  indeed  much  disappointed  that  you  coud  not  come  at 
Christmas,  but  perhaps  it  was  best  that  you  did  not  as  the 
weather  was  so  cold  you  woud  have  had  disagreeable  travel- 
ling, your  brother  in  returning  from  Dale  the  thursday  night 
before  christmas  had  the  fingers  of  his  left  hand  so  frozen  that 
he  was  confined  at  home  for  several  days,  but  they  are  getting 
better. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  you  are  well  and  happy, 
that  this  and  every  succeeding  year  of  my  dear  John's  life, 
may  be  blessed  with  an  increase  of  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal 
happiness,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  ever  Affe6\ionate 

H  HoBART 

I  forgot  to  tell  jyoM  your  Sister  and  family  are  well,  tell  Forsyth 

L   243   2 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

he  has  my  good  wishes  Do  let  me  know  if  you  received  the 
bundle  containing  the  drawers,  under  jacket  &c  and  how  they 
suit. 

Superscription : 

M".  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATION 

The  Proposed  Settlement  at  Lancaster. 

Mr.  Hobart's  reply  to  this  letter  is  given  in  Berrian's  "Memoir," 
page  55  :  "  My  dear  mother  does  not  seem  properly  to  understand  \\hat 
I  wrote  to  Dr.  White.  I  have  no  intention  of  remaining  with  any  con- 
gregation that  will  not  afford  me  a  decent  maintenance  :  I  only  meant 
that  I  would  not  insist  on  this  afji/vf,  as  a  condition,  before  they  knew 
mv  abilities  or  character,  or  whether  I  would  please  them.  I  considered 
also,  that  most  of  the  Episcopal  congregations  are  in  such  a  deranged 
situation  as  to  need  the  sedulous  exertions  of  a  settled  minister  to  put 
them  in  a  way  of  affording  a  maintenance.  I  would  always  wish  my 
income  from  a  congregation  to  rest  on  the  opinion  they  had  of  my 
intentions  and  exertions.  Thus  explained,  I  think  3'ou  can  have  no 
objection  to  my  sentiments." 

Bishop  White's  offer  is  thus  recorded  by  Dr.  Berrian,  with  Mr. 
Hobart's  declination,  in  Berrian's  "  Memoir,"  page  54:  "It  appears 
that  Bishop  \\niite  was  anxious  to  ha\  e  him  enter,  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable, into  the  sacred  office,  and  to  settle  at  Lancaster,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  spring  of  1797.  The  proposition,  however,  which  at 
first  was  readil}'  accepted,  was  afterwards  declined,  on  the  ground  of 
his  imperfect  preparation  for  the  ministry,  and  of  some  unexpected 
disadvantages  which  would  necessarily  retard  his  impro\'ement  in  the 
situation  itself.  The  reasons  for  this  change  of  his  views  are  given 
in  the  following  letter  to  Bishop  White: 

Princeton,  Dec.  24th,   1 796. 

Dear  Sir, 

Mv  willingness  to  take  charge  of  the  congregation  at  Lancaster  arose 

from  the  opinion  that  it  was  an  eligible  situation,  where  a  clergyman 

might  be  useful,  and  \\hich,  on  that  account,  duty  called  on  me  in 

[    244-   ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

some  degree  to  accept.  My  plan,  however,  had  been  to  remain  much 
longer  a  candidate  for  orders,  and  to  pursue  both  general  and  par- 
ticular studies  to  a  greater  extent.  I  did  not  know,  till  I  recei\ed  your 
letter,  that  the  congregation  could  not  support  a  minister  \\  ithout  his 
having  recourse  to  instruction.  As  the  situation  does  not  appear  so 
eligible  as  I  expected,  it  has  become  a  question  with  me,  whether  I 
ought  to  sacrifice  my  present  inclination  for  stud}',  and  my  desire  to 
be  more  fully  prepared  before  I  come  forward.  These  are  favourite 
objects  w  ith  me,  for  I  consider  that  the  duties  of  a  professional  life, 
and  the  cares  of  the  world,  will  not  allow  me  as  favourable  an  oppor- 
tunity for  improvement  as  I  no\v  enjoj' :  I  am  therefore  disposed  to 
decline  coming  forward  in  the  spring. 

My  choice  of  the  ministry  has  arisen,  not  only  from  a  fondness  for 
a  studious  and  literary  life,  but,  I  trust,  also  from  a  sincere  regard  to 
the  sacred  objects  which  that  profession  contemplates ;  when  I  have, 
therefore,  farther  indulged  my  inclination  for  study,  and  am,  as  I 
conceive,  more  fully  prepared,  I  shall  not  consider  it  as  an  objection 
to  any  congregation  that  the  salar\-  is  small,  or  even  inadequate  of 
itself  to  the  purposes  of  a  maintenance. 

With  sincere  respect  and  regard, 
I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Yours  affectionately, 

John  Henry  Hob  art." 


[  From  Hannah  Hob  art  ] 

Jany  23"!  1797  monday 

I  HAVE  been  a  good  deal  engaged  for  some  time  pastor 
I  shoud  have  written  to  my  dear  John  before  now. 
I  sincerely  regret  the  cause  of  the  necessity  which  has  made 
it  proper  for  Forsyth  to  leave  princeton,  for  his  own  sake,  as 
he  has  lost  advantages  which  he  might  have  profited  by,  and 
for  yours  as  you  are  thereby  deprived  of  the  society  of  a  friend 
whose  amiable  disposition  justly  endeard  him  to  you,  and  to 

C  245  D 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

part  with  whom,  must  I  am  sure  have  been  a  severe  trial  to 
you.  I  feel  much  for  you  my  dear  John,  tho  I  trust  a  concious- 
ness  that  it  is  best  it  shoud  be  so,  with  a  proper  sence  of  the 
duty  of  resignation  will  reconcile  you  to  it.  I  shoud  have  been 
gratified  to  have  seen  him  before  he  went  home,  tho  perhaps 
if  I  had,  my  regret  woud  not  have  been  lessend,  when  you 
write  to  him  tell  him  I  shall  always  esteem  him  as  the  de- 
servedly beloved  friend  of  my  deservedly  beloved  Son ;  that 
he  shares  my  best  wishes,  and  that  I  shall  always  be  happy 
in  hearing  of  his  welfare,  who  succeeds  hjm  as  tutor  .^  I  hope 
it  does  not  fall  upon  you,  as  I  fear  it  woud  be  too  heavy  a  task 
for  you  in  addition  to  what  you  had  before,  and  I  woud  wish 
you  not  to  undertake  so  much  as  to  injure  your  health  and 
spirits  which  I  beleive  you  have  sometimes  done.  I  know  my 
dear  John  you  always  have  friends  wherever  you  are,  and 
doubt  not  you  have  many  at  princeton,  but  possibly  not  many 
who  may  have  such  a  place  in  your  affections  as  the  one 
who  is  now  absent.  I  woud  like  however  to  know  who  is  next 
in  succession  to  him,  and  hope  whoever  he  is,  he  may  prove 
worthy.  I  woud  tho  hint  to  my  dear  John,  that  it  may  not  per- 
haps always  be  prudent  to  admit  any  to  such  an  unreserved 
confidence  as  was  Forsyth,  particularly  with  respeil;  to  your 
brother's  affairs,  about  which  I  have  sometimes  written  freely 
to  you  at  least  I  know  it  woud  hurt  him  much  if  he  shoud  know 
it,  but  tho  he  shoud  not,  yet  it  might  possibly  be  a  disadvan- 
tage to  him,  but  I  know  I  need  not  urge  the  subjeft  any  further. 
I  heard  from  your  brother  a  few  days  ago  they  are  well,  but 
his  situation  far  from  agreeable.  Mr  Smith  and  your  Sister  and 
family  were  well  Saturday  I  have  not  heard  since.  I  mentioned 
to  your  Sister  B,  that  I  had  heard  from  you,  that  you  were  well 
but  that  Forsyth  was  gone  home,  his  mother  wanting  him. 
You  will  be  pleased  to  find  the  North  America  insurance 
C    24fi   J 


HANNAH  HOBART 

company  have  made  rather  a  larger  dividend  than  ever  be- 
fore, two  dollars  on  every  share,  which  is  to  my  part  four  hun- 
dred dollars,  a  fortunate  circumstance  for  me,  as  I  have  been 
obliged  to  borrow  money  to  keep  house  with,  which  with  sev- 
eral accounts  1  have  to  pay  amonts  to  near  half  the  dividend, 
the  other  half  I  must  manage  as  frugally  as  I  can,  as  I  shall 
have  very  little  besides  to  depend  on  till  the  next  dividend 
in  July.  I  mention  these  circumstances  because  I  expedl  you 
woud  wish  to  know  things  as  they  are. 

My  dear  John's  explanation  of  that  part  of  your  letter  to 
D^  White  which  I  had  observed  upon  in  my  letter  to  you,  is 
quite  satisfaftory.  I  had  understood  it  as  it  appeard,  I  suppose 
he  has  not  written  to  you  since  as  he  had  not  sent  any  letter 
here.  I  hear  his  youngest  son  died  yesterday.  M'K  White  too 
is  in  bad  health. 

Your  Sister  P.  is  as  usual.  I  have  been  much  favord  this  win- 
ter not  having  yet  been  troubled  with  the  Rheumatism  tho  we 
have  had  some  extreeme  cold  weather,  but  I  have  scarce  been 
out  of  the  house  except  sometimes  to  M^  Smiths. 

I  shall  be  glad  you  will  write  as  soon  as  you  can  and  inform 
me  how  you  are  circumstanced  in  every  respe6l  that  you  know 
is  interesting  to  me,  in  the  hope  that  you  are  well  and  happy. 
I  am  as  ever  my  dear  John's  Affedlionate 

H  HOBART 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Insurance  Company  of  North  America. 

The  Insurance  Company  of  North  America  was  established  in  1792, 
and  incorporated  b}'  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  in  1794.  Its  capital 
stock  was  six  hundred  thousand  dollars,  divided  into  sixty  thousand 

C   247   H 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

shares  of  ten  dollars  each.  It  was  prosperous  from  the  time  it  began 
business. 

In  1796  John  M.  Nesbit  was  president  and  Ebenezer  Hazard, 
secretary.  The  directors  were  :  Joseph  Ball,  John  Craig,  John  Leaney, 
Walter  Stewart,  Samuel  Blodgett,  Magnus  Miller,  John  \'aughan, 
Charles  Pettit,  John  Ross,  Robert  Ralston,  Francis  West,  Standish 
Forde,  Peter  Blight,  Thomas  M.  Moore,  Robert  Smith,  John  Fr\-, 
Jr.,  William  McMurtrie,  Philip  Nicklin,  Samuel  Broek,  William 
Samson,  Samuel  Sterrit,  William  Cameron,  Henry  Ball,  and  Samuel 
Emery. 

William  White,  Jr. 

Bishop  White's  youngest  son  was  William  \Miite,  born  in  1784; 

died  on  January  22,  1797,  in  his  thirteenth  year. 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Thursday  g"'  Feb?   1797 

I  SENT  five  papers  to  the  post  office  on  friday  last,  four  on 
monday,  and  six  on  Wednesday,  before  I  received  my  dear 
John's  last  letter.  I  have  another  packet  six  ready  which  I  shall 
send  tomorrow,  these  will  bring  them  some  days  into  this 
month,  and  on  monday  I  will  send  all  I  can  get,  and  then  you 
will  have  the  debates  up  to  the  present  time,  after  monday 
I  will  send  them  daily  if  I  can  get  them,  but  M""  Smith  some- 
times has  not  done  with  them  the  first  day,  and  I  think  it  woud 
not  do  to  take  them  till  he  has  done  with  them. 

I  have  long  wish'd  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  give  my  dear 
John  a  watch  and  hoped  I  shoud  be  able  to  do  it  when  you 
next  came  home.  I  thought  you  coud  then  please  yourself  in 
the  choice  of  one.  I  was  at  Price's  this  morning  to  make  some 
enquiry,  he  says  those  of  Leslies  new  constru6lion  are  not  fit 
for  common  use,  but  only  for  Nautical  purposes,  he  has  French 

:  248  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

watches  Gold  from  60  to  80  doll*  and  English  from  80  to  200 
and  upwards,  the  french  are  single  cased  the  English  double, 
they  are  much  higher  priced  than  I  had  any  idea  thev  \voud 
be,  but  I  know  it  is  necessary  for  you  to  have  a  watch  and  you 
must  have  one  if  it  is  possible,  but  I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  spare  the  money  for  that  and  other  purposes  too.  After 
paying  what  I  had  borrow'd  and  owed  on  other  accounts,  I 
have  but  about  320  dolh.  left  from  both  insurance  companies. 
I  must  lay  in  my  wood  in  the  spring  or  it  will  be  a  burden 
on  my  mind  all  the  summer,  it  cost  me  last  spring  between 
70  and  80  doll*  and  I  think  it  likely  it  will  be  more  this  spring, 
deduct  80  doll*  for  that  from  the  320  leaves  240  dolh  which 
I  think  will  not  be  more  than  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of 
housekeeping  ( and  it  is  my  only  dependance )  till  next  July, 
so  that  if  I  get  vou  a  watch  as  I  shoud  be  glad  to  do,  I  fear 
I  shall  be  obliged  to  borrow  which  woud  be  far  from  agree- 
able to  me,  for  I  am  quite  tired  of  borrowing,  besides  my  dear 
John  I  think  you  \\*ill  certainly  want  some  cloaths  in  the  spring, 
and  if  you  do  not  receive  your  Salary  till  may,  wont  you  want 
money  to  get  them,  and  for  some  other  necessary  purposes 
too?  I  am  afraid  our  stock  will  fall  far  short  of  our  necessities, 
indeed  on  considering  our  precarious  income,  it  seems  to  me 
most  prudent  to  lay  out  no  money  but  just  for  absolute  neces- 
sities. Our  commerce  suffers  much  from  the  french  at  this 
time,  so  that  many  of  the  private  underwriters  wont  do  any 
business  and  it  is  expected  if  it  continues  the  insurance  com- 
panies will  also  stop,  if  this  shoud  be  the  case  you  and  I  will 
be  badly  off.  Upon  the  whole  dont  you  think  my  dear  John, 
if  you  woud  wish  to  have  a  watch  now,  it  woud  be  most  ad- 
viseable  to  get  a  lower  priced  one  which  may  answer  for  the 
present,  and  when  times  are  more  encourgeing  we  can  get 
a  gold  one.''  let  me  know  as  soon  as  you  can  if  you  woud  wish 

c  249  n 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

me  to  get  one  now  and  what  sort  of  one,  or  whether  you 
think  it  best  to  defer  it  till  you  come  home. 

I  have  been  interrupted  and  fear  I  shall  be  too  late  for  the 
Mail,  have  only  time  to  tell  you  we  are  all  well  as  usual.  I 
am  as  ever  my  dear  John's 

Affe6lionate 

H   HOBART 
friday  morng. 

I  forgot  to  tell  you  there  are  two  summer  waistcoats  here.  I 
will  have  them  ready. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henrv  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

Isaac  Price. 

Isaac  Price  was  a  watchmaker,  with  a  shop  at  No.  79  High  Street, 

Philadelphia. 

Leslie  and  Price. 

Leslie  and  Price  were  watch  and  clockmakers,  with  a  shop  at  No. 

187  High  Street,  Philadelphia. 


L  250  ^ 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  February  15  1797. 

My  Dear  John, 

WHEN  I  refle6l  how  long  it  is  since  you  left  this  city, 
I  exceedingly  regret  that  we  have  not  yet  commenced 
our  correspondence  in  a  way  congenial  with  our  feelings; 
and  the  more  so,  as  I  must  acknowledge  that  I  have  been 
chiefly  to  blame.  It  is  however  a  satisfaction  to  me,  and  I  trust 
it  is  mutual,  that  our  friendship  rests  upon  a  more  solid  foot- 
ing than  the  regularity  of  our  correspondence.  The  harmony 
and  afFe6lion  which  have  always  subsisted  between  us,  since 
our  first  acquaintance  and  the  many  agreeable  hours  we  have 
spent  in  each  others  company,  I  shall  always  remember  with 
pleasure.  I  often  think  of  you  with  affe(5tion ;  and  I  entertain 
the  pleasing  hope  that  at  a  future  day,  our  situation  may  be 
such  as  to  afford  us  frequent  opportunities  of  renewing  our 
former  enjoyment.  Tho'  I  readily  own  that  I  am  to  blame  for 
not  writing  to  you  before,  yet  I  think  I  am  not  altogether  with- 
out some  excuse.  I  have  really  had  very  little  time  to  spare 
thro'  the  winter.  I  have  kept  the  books,  which  with  the  other 
necessary  business  about  the  store,  leaves  me  very  little  time 
to  myself.  As  I  cannot  expe6l  more  leisure  than  I  have  had, 
I  shall  not  make  any  promises  that  may  not  be  fulfilled;  but 
I  trust  I  shall  be  believed  when  I  say,  that  my  silence  will 
not  be  owing  to  forgetfullness.  I  believe  your  engagements 
at  College,  must  leave  you  very  little  time  unemployed;  yet 
I  shall  expe6l  to  hear  occasionally  from  you. 

I  was  surprized  to  hear  that  our  friend  Forsyth  has  left  you 
soon.  I  expe6led  he  would  at  least  have  remained  untill  the 
Spring;  but,  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  necessary  and  proper  for 
him  to  go  home.  To  be  seperated  from  those  for  whom  we 

C  251  J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

have  any  affe6lion  is  always  painfull ;  but  it  affords  some  com- 
fort, when  we  are  convinced,  that  their  future  happiness  and 
welfare  require  it,  and  when  we  are  assured  of  a  continuance 
of  their  friendship.  The  Drft  Mr  F.  sent  me  for  $200  is  paid, 
and  I  now  enclose  the  amount  in  United  States  Notes.  I  for- 
got to  mention  to  you  or  him,  that  one  of  the  Setts  of  the  His- 
tory of  Jacobinism  which  I  sent  last  winter  was  for  him,  he 
subscribed  for  it  when  he  was  here  last  fall.  Perhaps  you  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  sending  it  to  him ,  if  not  you  can  return 
it  to  me;  and  I  suppose  I  can  get  it  exchanged  for  some  other 
Book. 

I  expected  you  would  be  pleased  with  the  History  of  Jacobin- 
ism. It  is  in  my  opinion  one  of  the  best  publications  I  have  seen 
on  the  French  Revolution.  The  Author  appears  to  be  a  man 
of  talents,  and  I  have  understood,  he  had  the  very  best  oppor- 
tunity of  obtaining  information  of  the  views,  and  condu6t  of 
the  principal  leaders.  Tho  the  relation  of  the  principal  events 
are  nearly  the  same  as  in  other  accounts,  which  have  been 
pubhshed;  yet  he  traces  the  causes  of  those  events,  to  a  dif- 
ferent source,  than  that  we  have  been  accustomed  to  suppose. 
I  think  he  shows  clearly  that  the  ambitious  views  of  some  of 
the  leaders,  and  enthusiasm  of  others  of  good  intentions,  more 
than  any  ill  designs  of  the  King  or  his  ministry,  were  the 
principal  causes  of  the  succeeding  troubles.  This,  am  persuaded 
will  be  the  light  in  which  it  will  appear  to  posterity. 

The  condu61:  of  the  French  in  the  West  Indies  in  captur- 
ing American  Vessels,  is  a  distressing  circumstance  as  the  pro- 
perty they  have  taken  is  immense,  and  from  the  chara6lers 
and  condu6l  of  the  principal  Agents  there  is  not  the  smallest 
prospe61:  of  obtaining  compensation.  The  condemnations  are 
so  summary:  and  from  their  refusal  to  give  the  owners  any 
papers,  relative  to  their  proceedings,  it  would  be  impossible 

C  252  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

to  substantiate  a  single  claim,  altho'  tlie  French  Government 
were  both  able  and  disposed  to  make  restitution. 

Mr.  Pickering's  letter  has  given  very  general  satisfa6lion 
among  all  the  friends  of  Government;  and  I  hope  it  will  open 
the  eyes  of  some  who  have  been  hitherto,  rather  unfriendly  to 
it.  It  will  I  am  persuaded  be  usefull  in  this  country,  as  some- 
thing of  the  kind  was  much  wanted.  I  trust  too,  that  it  will 
have  the  desired  effe6l  in  France;  for,  altho,  I  do  not  trust 
much  to  the  friendship,  or  good  will,  which  the  French  have 
for  this  country,  yet  I  expe6l  that  a  regard  to  their  own  inter- 
est, will  point  out  the  propriety,  of  their  acquiescing  in  Mr.  P. 
explanation  of  the  motives,  and  condu6l  of  this  Government. 

With  respe6l  to  the  news  in  town,  I  am  sorry  to  say  there 
are  none  of  an  agreeable  nature.  Numerous  Bankruptcies  have 
taken  place  thro'  the  winter;  and  some  of  them  attended  with 
circumstances  of  such  a  fraudulent  nature,  as  to  be  disgrace 
to  the  city.  Some  great  names  have  set  the  example  of  dis- 
regarding their  credit,  which  has  had  a  pernicious  influence 
on  every  class  of  citizens. 

I  have  not  room  to  say  more  than  that  I  am,  my  dear  John 
very  affeftionately 

Yours 

James  Robertson. 

I  shall  expe6l  to  hear  sometimes  from  you;  and  altho'  I  am 
sensible  how  dificient  I  have  been  myself,  I  expe6l  you  will 
overlook  it.  I  have  subscribed  for  you  to  Adams's  Defence. 

Superscription : 

M"  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

History  of  Jacobinism. 

Augustine  de  Barruel  was  born  at  Villeneuve  de  Berg,  France,  in 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

1741.  He  studied  for  the  priesthood,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus.  After  the  expulsion  of  the  order  from  France  in  1764, 
he  lived  in  Bohemia,  Moravia,  and  \'ienna.  Returning  to  France  in 
1774,  he  became  the  almoner  of  the  Princesse  de  Conti.  He  occupied 
himself  largely  in  literary  work,  and  with  Freron  issued  "L'Annee 
Litteraire."  In  1788  he  published  "  Les  Helviennes,  ou  Lettres  pro- 
vinciales  philosophiques,"  in  five  volumes.  It  was  a  bitter  attack  upon 
the  prevalent  philosophy  and  political  ideas.  He  spent  some  years  in 
England  after  the  Reign  of  Terror,  where  he  prejxired  his  "  Memoires 
sur  le  Jacobinisme,"  which  were  first  published  in  1797.  It  is  char- 
acterized as  full  of  mistakes  as  to  the  position  of  those  whose  svstem 
of  politics  it  comments  on  with  much  satire  and  sharp  invective.  In 
its  English  form,  it  bears  the  title,  "  Memoirs  illustrating  the  History 
of  Jacobinism."  This  edition  was  published  in  1798  in  four  volumes. 
A  second  edition  in  French  was  published  in  1813.  M.  Barruel 
declared  his  allegiance  to  the  First  Consul,  and  was  rew  arded  w  ith 
a  canonry  in  the  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  Paris.  He  died  in  1820. 

Capture  of  American  Vessels  by  the  French. 
The  growing  oppression  of  American  citizens,  and  the  seizure  of 
American  vessels  and  merchandise  by  France,  upon  the  high  seas 
or  in  ports  in  the  West  Indies,  led  to  strong  representations  by  the 
United  States  government.  To  the  remonstrance  of  M.  Adet,  the 
French  Minister,  Mr.  Pickering  made  public  on  January  16,  1797, 
his  letter  to  Mr.  Pinckney,  then  minister  plenipotentiary  to  France. 
It  may  be  thus  abstracted : 

"The  French  Minister  had  complained  of  the  abandonment  of  the 
principle  that  free  ships  make  free  goods  ;  of  the  violation  of  the  French 
treaties  even  in  the  letter  ;  of  the  treat}-  with  England  ;  and  of  the  in- 
gratitude of  the  United  States.  Each  complaint  was  considered  in  turn. 
Even  on  that  of  ingratitude  he  dwelt  at  length.  He  reminded  the 
Minister  of  the  conduct  of  France  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  How- 
she  cared  nothing  for  the  good  of  the  United  States ;  how  she  formed 
the  alliance  in  hope  of  breaking  down  the  pow  er  of  England  on  the 
sea ;  how,  when  independence  was  secured,  she  strove  to  delay  its  ac- 
knowledgment;  how,  even  to  the  very  last  moment,  she  sought  to 
deprive  the  States  of  some  of  its  happiest  results  :  a  just  extent  of  terri- 
tor)-,  the  right  to  use  the  Mississippi,  and  to  take  fish  upon  the  Grand 
C   254  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

Banks.  And  had  America,  he  asked,  given  no  succor  to  France?  Of 
the  fifty-tliree  millions  of  livres  loaned  by  France,  how  much  remained 
unpaid"?  Every  livre  of  it  had  been  discharged  in  1795.  Yet  the  last 
instalment  was  not  stricdy  payable  till  1802.  Was  this  ingratitude? 
The  administration,  it  was  true,  hesitated  to  receive  M.  Genet.  But 
had  France  done  nothing  of  the  kind?  Was  she  prompt  in  acknow- 
ledging the  independence  of  America?  No.  She  delayed  for  one  year 
and  a  half;  nor  would  she  then  have  done  so  had  not  a  whole  Brit- 
ish army  laid  down  its  arms.  "  {^McMaster'' s  Histonj^  vol.  ii^ p.  313.] 
This  letter  led  to  a  long  and  bitter  controversy  between  the  sym- 
pathizers with  France  and  the  supporters  of  the  government.  Many 
editorials  and  letters  appeared  in  the  papers,  and  several  pamphlets 
were  published  on  the  subject. 

Timothy  Pickering. 

Timothy,  a  son  of  Timothy  and  Mary  (Wingate)  Pickering,  was 
bom  at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  on  July  17,  1745.  He  was  graduated 
from  Harvard  College  in  1763.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1768.  He  was  registrar  of  deeds  for  Essex  County.  He 
served  as  lieutenant  of  militia  from  1766  to  1775,  and  as  colonel  in 
1775  and  1776.  In  December,  1775,  he  was  made  judge  of  the  mari- 
time court.  He  was  elected  as  representative  in  the  great  and  general 
court  of  Massachusetts  in  1776.  He  joined  the  Continental  Arniy  with 
a  regiment  of  seven  hundred  men,  was  promoted  to  be  adjutant-gen- 
eral in  June,  1777,  was  made  a  member  of  the  board  of  war  on  Novem- 
ber 7,  1777,  and  became  quartermaster-general  of  the  army  on  Au- 
gust 5,  1780.  Upon  the  abolition  of  the  quartermaster's  department 
in  July,  1785,  he  became  a  commission  merchant  in  Philadelphia. 
In  1787  he  removed  to  Wyoming  Valley,  Pennsj'lvania. 

His  opposition  to  the  claimants  on  behalf  of  Connecticut  of  that  sec- 
tion of  country  led  to  his  rough  treatment,  an  attack  upon  his  house, 
and  his  retirement  to  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention  of  Pennsylvania  in  1789,  as  also  of  that  which 
ratified  the  United  States  Constitution.  In  1791  he  was  made  Post- 
master-General of  the  United  States.  On  January  2,  1795,  he  suc- 
ceeded General  Henry  Knox  as  Secretary  of  War.  During  his  admin- 
istration the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  was  founded,  and  three 
frigates,  the  Consdtution,  the  Constellation,  and  United  States,  were 
C   255  J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

built.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Edmund  Randolph,  on  August  19, 
1795,  Colonel  Pickering  became  Secretary  of  State.  Intrigue  among 
the  Federalists  led  to  his  dismissal  by  the  President,  John  Adams,  on 
May  6,  1800. 

He  built  for  himself  a  log  cabin  in  Susquehanna  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  there  engaged  in  farming.  Friends  and  admirers  in  Boston 
subscribed  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  to  relieve  him  of  debt  and 
induce  him  to  return  to  his  native  state.  He  made  his  home  at  Dan- 
vers,  and  in  1802  was  made  chief  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas 
of  Massachusetts.  He  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
Dwight  Foster  in  the  United  States  Senate  in  1803,  and  was  elected 
in  1805  for  the  full  term  of  six  years.  He  opposed  the  Louisiana  Pur- 
chase and  the  Embargo  Act,  which  made  him  unpopular.  Removing 
to  Wenham,  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  served  from  1813  to 
1817.  In  1817  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  executive  council 
of  Massachusetts.  He  was  interested  in  agriculture,  and  from  1818 
was  president  of  the  Essex  Agricultural  Society.  His  long  public  ser- 
vice, his  evident  patriotism,  and  his  ability  gave  him  a  high  place 
among  the  men  who  founded  the  United  States.  His  correspondence 
and  other  papers  which  are  of  great  value  are  in  the  possession  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  They  have  been  carefully  calen- 
dared. He  died  at  Salem  on  January  29,  1829. 

He  married  Rebecca  White  of  Bristol,  England,  on  April  8,  1776. 
She  died  at  Salem  on  August  14,  1828. 

Adams's  Defence. 

While  John  Adams  was  Minister  to  England  (from  1785  to  1788), 
he  prepared  and  published  in  London  his  most  elaborate  and  philo- 
sophical work,  in  three  volumes,  entitled  "  Defence  of  the  Constitu- 
tion and  Government  of  the  United  States,"  London,  1787.  The  new 
edition  here  mentioned  was  the  first  published  in  America. 


C  256  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 
[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Monday  20'''  Feby  1797 

I  HAVE  received  my  dear  John's  letter  of  the  14'''  by  the 
mail  and  also  of  the  1.5'''  by  M"^  Salles,  and  will  send  the 
things  you  mention  by  him  when  he  returns. 

You  may  recolle6l  my  dear  John,  when  you  last  left  me  you 
had  62  dollars  out  of  the  80,  and  that  just  before  Christinas 
I  sent  you  five  dollars  which  made  67,  so  that  there  was  13 
left. to  which  I  shall  add  27  to  make  40  dollars  as  you  desire, 
and  will  enclose  it  in  this,  it  is  exceedingly  painful  to  me  to 
limit  you  in  this  manner  when  it  woud  be  a  gratification  to  me 
to  supply  you  with  everything  you  coud  wish  for,  particularly 
the  watch  which  I  have  so  long  promised  you.  I  am  very  much 
mortified  that  circumstances  oblige  me  at  present  to  defer 
that,  but  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall  have  it  in 
my  power. 

I  look  forward  with  pleasure  to  the  time  when  I  may  expedl 
to  see  you  at  home,  and  tho  I  shoud  be  made  happy  by  having 
my  dear  children  always  with  me  if  it  appeard  best  for  them 
that  it  shoud  be  so;  yet  when  it  does  not,  I  can  freely  give 
up  my  own  gratification  for  their  advantage,  or  rather  I  am 
happiest  in  proportion  as  they  are  so. 

I  fear  you  are  not  quite  well,  or  it  woud  not  be  necessary 
for  you  to  use  the  bark,  perhaps  your  diet  disagrees  with  you 
or  you  study  too  much ;  or  do  not  take  exercise  enough,  I  wish 
you  woud  attend  to  your  health  for  without  that  there  is  no 
enjoyment  in  anything. 

M"^  Smith  and  your  Sister  and  the  children  are  all  well,  but 
your  Sister  has  been  so  much  engaged  with  M"'*^  (John )  Potts 
from  Virginia  who  has  been  there  these  several  weeks  that 
I  seldom  see  her,  as  I  have  no  inclination  to  see  company. 

c  257 :] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Your  brother  was  in  town  two  or  three  weeks  ago,  he  left 
all  well  at  home,  but  I  have  not  heard  from  there  since  he 
returned,  he  desired  to  be  remembered  to  you,  which  I  for- 
got when  I  wrote  to  you.  Your  Sister  P.  is  much  as  usual.  I 
continue  well  myself,  and  am  happy  in  my  dear  Jolin's  Affec- 
tionate remembrance.  May  every  good  be  your  portion  prays 

your  Affe6lionate  H.  Hobart 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henrv  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Mr.  Salles. 

Mr.  Salles  seems  to  have  been  the  messenger  or  driver  of  one  of  the 

stages  between  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

Mrs.  {John)  Potts  from  Virginia. 

John,  son  of  Samuel  and  Joanna  (Holland)  Potts,  was  born  at  Coven- 
try, Pennsylvania,  on  October  20,  1760.  He  studied  law  and  com- 
menced to  practise  in  Philadelphia.  In  1785,  at  the  solicitation  of  Gen- 
eral Washington,  he  went  to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  to  become  secretary 
of  the  Potomac  Company,  of  which  the  general  was  president.  The 
company  had  been  formed  to  make  the  Potomac  navigable  by  locks 
and  dams,  and  suitable  for  large  vessels.  It  was  also  the  intention  to 
connect  it  with  the  Ohio  River,  separated  from  its  headwaters  by  a 
road  of  only  forty  miles.  A  conference  was  held  at  Annapolis  on  De- 
cember 22,  1784,  between  representatives  of  the  states  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia.  Washington,  with  Lafayette,  attended.  They  were  re- 
ceived with  distinguished  honour.  The  Potomac  Company  w  as  then 
chartered  and  Washington  made  president.  Each  state  was  to  take 
fifty  shares  of  the  stock.  Mr.  Potts  was  an  efficient  man  for  the  work 
he  undertook.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  plan  was  impracticable,  and 
ultimately  the  company  was  merged  in  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  Company.  After  the  failure  of  the  project,  Mr.  Potts  entered 
into  business  at  Alexandria.  He  died  suddenly  while  on  a  visit  to  his 
mother  at  Pottstown  on  October  17,  1809. 
C   258   ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

Mr.  Potts  married  at  Alexandria,  Eliza,  the  fourth  daughter  of  Pat- 
rick and  Elizabeth  (Poythress)  Ramsay.  Her  father  Mas  a  son  of 
Andrew  Ramsay,  provost  of  Glasgow,  Scotland.  He  returned  to  Scot- 
land during  the  Revolution,  -where  he  soon  after  died.  The  family 
remained  in  England  for  the  education  of  the  children,  returning  in 
1792.  Upon  her  mother's  side  she  was  descended  from  the  Indian 
princess  Pocahontas.  Mr.  John  Potts  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Robert 
Smith's  first  husband.  Captain  Nathaniel  Potts. 


[  From  Han.vah  Hobart  ] 

Friday  24'''  Feb';  1797 

I  EXPECT  my  dear  John  you  will  receive  this  by  M'  Salles, 
also  a  bundle  containing  your  two  waistcoats,  four  ounces 
of  bark,  Doft""  Magaw's  Sermon,  Ainsworths  Didtionary,  and 
a  book  which  Ja":  Robertson  procured  for  you,  also  Wednes- 
days and  Thursdays  papers. 

I  wrote  to  you  on  monday  by  the  mail  and  inclosed  forty 
dollars,  when  you  next  write  you  will  inform  me  if  you  have 
received  them  as  well  as  what  I  now  send. 

I  have  not  time  for  more  now  than  to  mention  that  we 
continue  well  as  when  I  wrote  last. 

I  am  as  ever  my  dear  John's  Affect. 

H  HoBART 

Superscription: 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 
M'  Salles 

ANNOTATIONS 

Samuel  Magaw. 

Samuel  Magaw  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1757  in  the  first  class  that  completed  the  course.  He  went  to  Eng- 
land for  ordination.  Upon  his  return  he  became  missionarv  at  Dover 
and  Dutch  Creek,  Delaware.  He  was  asked  in  1779  to  accept  the 
[   259   ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

rectorship  of  St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia,  but  declined  at  that  time.  In 
1781,  however,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  to  the  great  satisfaction 
of  the  congregation.  He  was  a  kind,  genial  man,  a  good  preacher,  and 
had  great  executive  ability.  Under  him  St.  Paul's  prospered.  In  1786 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Pilmore  became  his  assistant.  From  1782  to  1791 
he  was  vice-provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  connection 
with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Abercrombie  he  organized  the  Philadelphia  Acad- 
emv  in  1800.  He  was  a  good  teacher  and  an  excellent  scholar.  In 
the  measure  for  the  organization  of  the  Church  Dr.  Maga\\-  took  an 
influential  part,  acting  often  as  the  secretary  of  the  meetings  held. 
He  w  as  the  trusted  friend  and  companion  of  Bishop  White.  He  died 
at  Philadelphia  on  December  1,  1812. 

Dr.  Magaw  published  several  sermons.  Among  others,  that  at  the 
opening  of  the  African  Church  of  St.  Thomas  in  1794,  which  is  the 
one  sent  to  Mr.  Hobart,  and  that  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  White  in  1797. 

Robert  Ainszvorth. 

Robert  Ainsworth  was  born  at  Woodvale,  near  Manchester,  Eng- 
land, in  1660.  He  was  educated  at  Bolton,  and  taught  school  in  that 
town  until  1698,  w  hen  he  w  ent  to  London.  He  still  pursued  the  call- 
ing of  schoolmaster.  In  1714  he  commenced  his  dictionar)"  of  Latin- 
English  and  English-Latin,  which  was  published  in  1736.  It  was 
long  a  standard,  but  has  been  superseded  by  dictionaries  written 
with  fuller  knowledge  and  on  a  more  philosophical  plan.  He  died  in 
London  on  April  4,  1743. 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Saturday  ll'*  March  1797 

I  DID  not  receive  my  dear  John's  letter  of  Wednesday  the 
22^^  Feby.  till  the  monday  after,  just  at  the  instant  that 
M"^  Salles  calld  for  the  packet  which  had  been  ready  from  fri- 
day,  consequently  I  coud  not  make  the  change  in  it  which  you 
mentioned.  I  enquired  afterwards  of  Ja*  Robertson  if  he  knew 
of  any  person  going  by  whom  I  might  send  the  other  books, 

C  260  J 


HANNAH  HOBART 

he  told  me  he  woud  look  out  for  an  opportunity  as  he  had 
some  books  which  he  wanted  to  send  to  you,  and  ofterd  to 
procure  those  which  I  mentioned  I  had  to  get,  and  send  them 
altogether,  I  sent  Newtons  letters  to  him,  and  he  has  infonned 
me  that  he  had  got  Smith's  observations,  but  that  he  despared 
of  getting  Shuckfords  connection  &c  it  being  an  old  book 
was  not  in  any  of  the  shops  that  he  coud  find.  I  have  not  seen 
him  these  several  days  so  do  not  know  whether  he  has  been 
successful  in  the  further  enquires  he  intended  to  make,  or 
whether  he  has  sent  them  or  not. 

1  write  now  in  a  hurry,  but  must  take  time  to  inform  my 
dear  John,  that  M'  Ruff  has  a  letter  from  Abingdon  acquaint- 
ing him  of  the  Death  of  your  Aunt  Wetherall  on  the  5^^  of 
this  month  after  twelve  days  illness,  occasioned  by  a  cold, 
which  terminated  in  a  fever  in  a  degree  putrid,  twenty  months 
since  there  was  six  brothers  and  Sisters  of  us,  now  there  is 
but  three  left,  when  the  younger  are  called,  the  older  may 
surely  expe6t  it,  may  each  be  prepared  when  the  summons 
comes. 

Your  Sister  B.  and  family  are  well  and  so  was  your  brother 
and  his  when  I  last  heard  from  them,  about  a  week  ago.  Your 
Sister  P.  and  myself  are  now  as  well  as  usual. 

I  wish  much  to  hear  from  my  dear  John  and  I  am  with 
my  best  wishes  and  the  tenderest 

Affeaion  Y- 

H  HoBART 

Superscription : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Sfnith's  Observations. 

Several  works  entitled  "Observations"  were  published  between  1733 

C   261    -] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  1797  bv  authors  of  the  name  of  Smith.  One  was  on  the  use 
of  Cheltenham  waters,  another  on  vegetables,  a  third  on  the  philoso- 
phy of  physic,  a  fourth  on  debtors  and  prisons.  The  only  work  of  this 
tide  which  Mr.  Hobart  would  be  likely  to  require  is,  "Obser\ations 
upon  the  Prophecies  of  Daniel,"  by  Benjamin  Smith,  who  was  the 
half-brother  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton.  It  is  a  quarto,  published  in  1733.  It 
is  proi^able,  however,  that  Mrs.  Hobart  did  not  gi\e  the  correct  title, 
and  that  the  book  her  son  asked  for  was  "Smith's  \'iew  of  the  Ameri- 
can Constitution,"  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  Mr.  Robertson's 
letter  of  March  16,  1797,  where  the  books  desired  by  Mr.  Hobart 
are  again  enumerated.  See  page  265. 

Daniel  Ruff. 

Daniel  Ruff"  and  Company  had  a  shoe  warehouse  at  No.  49  North 

Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 

Aunt  Wetherall. 

Rebecca,  daughter  of  Henrj'  and  Rebecca  (Claypoole)  Pratt,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia  on  August  27,  1736.  She  married  Mr.  Wetherall  of 
Abingdon,  Harford  County,  Maryland.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
saddler.  Mrs.  Wetherall  died  at  Abingdon  on  March  5,  1797.  She 
left  no  children. 

Brothers  and  Sisters  of  Hannah  Hobart. 

The  children  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Claypoole)  Pratt,  who  were 

married  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  May  1,  1729,  were: 

Hannah,  born  April  3,  1732;  died  May,  1804. 

Matthew,  born  September  23,  1734;  died  January,  1805. 

Rebecca,  born  August  27,  1736;  died  March  5,  1797. 

Joseph,  born  March  11,  1739;  died  1795. 

Deborah,  born  October  22,  1741  ;  died  young. 

Charles,  born  November  14,  1743;  died  1758. 

Thomas,  born  January  29,  1745;  died  1800. 

Deborah,  born  April  7,  1746;  died  1795. 


C    262    ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  March  1 6.  1797. 

Dear  Sir, 

SINCE  I  wrote  to  you  I  have  received  two  letters  from 
you,  the  last  by  the  post  yesterday.  I  am  sorry  you  have 
not  received  any  of  Porcupine's  late  papers,  as  the  disappoint- 
ment is  partly  owing  to  me.  After  I  had  subscribed  for  the 
papers,  I  happened  to  mention  it  to  your  Mama,  when  she 
expressed  a  desire  to  see  it.  As  it  is  published  in  the  afternoon, 
I  knew  she  would  have  time  to  look  over  it, and  that  you  would 
receive  it  as  soon,  as  if  it  had  been  sent  to  you  in  the  first 
instance.  Accordingly  I  gave  directions  that  it  should  be  left 
with  her.  On  the  same  day  however,  Mr  Cobbett  received 
a  letter  from  you  requesting  it  might  be  sent  to  Princeton. 
He  was  of  course  at  a  loss  where  to  send  it,  and  being  much 
engaged  he  negledled  to  make  any  enquiry,  expe6ting  more 
particular  directions  from  one  of  us.  As  soon  as  I  received 
your  letter  I  called  upon  him,  and  got  the  papers  up  to  this 
time,  they  shall  be  sent  by  this  days  mail,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
you  will  receive  them  regularly  in  future. 

I  suppose  you  will  think  it  singular  when  I  tell  you  I  have  not 
subscribed  for  this  paper.  But  we  take  too  many  papers  in  the 
store  already,  and  we  could  not  well  withdraw  the  subscrip- 
tion from  any  of  them.  Besides,  I  was  apprehensive  it  would  be 
too  much  of  a  party-paper  to  contain  much  useful  information ; 
and  that  the  Editor  would  be  as  much  disposed  to  abuse  his 
antagonists  as  to  set  them  right.  His  writings  I  beleive  have 
done  much  good  in  this  country  as  they  have  done  more 
to  bring  the  Democratic  &  other  societies  of  the  same  stamp 
into  contempt,  than  all  that  has  been  done  by  the  friends  of 
Good  Government.  The  establishment  of  such  a  paper  too,  is 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

unfortunately  in  some  degree  necessary,  to  countera6l  the  ill 
effedts  of  the  pernicious  publications  which  are  spread  daily 
thro'  every  city  in  America.  But  I  am  fearful  this  paper  will 
run  into  the  other  extreme.  Not  that  it  can  go  too  far  in  sup- 
port of  order  and  of  our  excellent  constitution ;  but,  that  it 
will  be  more  calculated  to  please  a  party,  and  gratify  the 
inclination  and  spread  the  opinions  and  prejudices  of  the 
publisher  than  to  answer  the  purposes  for  which  a  paper  was 
wanted.  It  will  tend  to  keep  alive  that  bitterness  and  party- 
spirit  which  unhappily  exists  in  this  country,  and  which  it  ought 
to  be  the  endeavour  of  every  friend  to  this  country  to  allay. 
This  paper  however  has  met  with  unexampled  encouragement, 
as  it  has  already  more  subscribers  tiian  many  papers  that  have 
been  established  for  years.  Many  who  dislike  both  the  pub- 
lisher and  his  opinions,  are  as  fond  of  seeing  it  as  those  who 
favour  him.  I  dare  say  you  will  be  upon  the  whole  occasion- 
ally entertained  by  it;  and  altho  I  have  spoken  not  very  favour- 
ably of  it;  yet  it  is  not  upon  such  as  you,  that  I  fear  any  ill 
effe6ls.  Business  continues  very  dull: — indeed,  I  may  say  it 
is  at  a  stand.  There  have  been  so  many  failures  lately  and 
attended  with  circumstances  of  such  fraudulent  nature,  that 
the  confidence  which  has  hitherto  subsisted  among  people 
here,  and  without  which  no  business  can  be  done  with  satisfac- 
tion, is  very  much  lessened.  The  losses  too,  by  captures  in  the 
W.  I.  are  immense,  and  will  ruin  numbers  who  were  formerly 
in  flourishing  circumstances.  We  are  much  in  such  a  situ- 
ation as  you  will  recolle6l  we  were  in  the  Spring  of  1 794,  when 
even  the  most  moderate  and  best  informed  men  were  at  a  loss 
what  to  do.  I  am  very  far  from  tiiinking  the  captures  by 
the  British  at  that  time  can  admit  of  any  justification;  but  I 
think  every  unprejudiced  person  will  allow,  that  the  present 
captures  by  the  French  in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  Nations,  of 

C  264  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

a  solemn  treaty  and  repeated  proffessions  of  friendship:  and 
added  to  innumerable  indignities  which  this  country  has  suf- 
fered from  them,  is  more  than  any  independent  nation  ever 
suffered  before.  I  am  in  hopes,  however,  that  something  will  be 
done  to  accommodate  matters  without  having  recourse  to  the 
most  dreadful  alternative — war — which  seems  to  be  the  opin- 
ion at  present  of  many  moderate  men.  There  are  no  late  news 
from  Europe.  The  accounts  we  have  had  relative  to  M""  Pinck- 
ney  are  so  uncertain  that  no  opinion  can  be  formed  of  the 
issue  of  his  mission.  I  think  it  is  probable  that  he  will  not  be  re- 
ceived at  present;  and  I  believe  it  is  certain  that  Lord  Malms- 
bury  has  left  Paris.  I  should  have  written  to  you  before,  but 
have  been  waiting  for  an  opport'y  to  sent  some  books  to  you. 
viz.  Adams  Defence,  Smith's  view  of  the  Am.  Constitutes 
and  Newton's  letters,  from  your  Mama.  Shuckford's  connec- 
tion of  sacred  and  prophane  history  is  not  to  be  had  in  this 
city. 

I  write  to  you  so  seldom  that  I  have  many  things  to  tell  you, 
and  before  I  have  half  done  my  paper  is  exhausted.  I  shall 
write  to  you  again  when  I  send  the  above  books  which  shall 
be  by  the  first  opport^.  I  am  affedlionately  yours 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


annotations 
William  Cobbett. 
For  notice  see  page  157. 

Charles  Coteszvorth  Pi?ickfiey. 

Charles  Cotesworth,  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Charles  and  Elliza  (Lucas) 

Pinckney,  was  born  atCharleston,  South  Carolina,  February  25, 1746. 

When  very  young  he  was  sent  to  England  to  be  educated,  and  in 

[   ^65  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

1753  he  became  a  pupil  at  Westminster  School.  In  due  course  he  went 
to  Oxford,  and  was  a  student  at  Christ  Church  College.  He  studied 
Law  at  the  Middle  Temple,  London,  and  took  a  course  at  the  Royal 
Military  Academy  at  Caen,  France. 

In  1769  he  returned  to  South  Carolina,  and  became  attorney-gen- 
eral of  the  state.  He  was  chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the  First  Pro\  incial 
Congress  in  1775.  In  the  same  year  he  was  made  captain  of  infantry 
in  the  South  Carolina  line  of  the  Continental  Army ;  in  December, 

1775,  he  was  promoted  to  be  major,  and  showed  much  gallantry 
at  the  defence  of  Fort  Sullivan,  in  Charleston  harbour,  on  June  28, 

1776.  He  was  advanced  to  be  colonel  on  September  16,  1776,  and 
soon  after  General  Washington  appointed  him  as  his  aide-de-camp. 
He  displayed  bravery  at  the  battles  of  Brandy  wine,  Germantown, 
and  in  the  expedition  to  Florida  in  1778.  In  January,  1779,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  South  Carolina  Senate.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
defence  of  Charleston,  \\as  second  in  command  of  the  column  in  the 
attack  upon  Savannah,  and  commanded  Fort  Moultrie  when  Charles- 
ton was  attacked  bv  the  British  in  April,  1780.  Upon  the  surrender 
of  the  city  in  May,  1780,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  was  kept  in 
close  confinement  for  two  years.  After  his  exchange  in  1782,  he  re- 
joined the  army,  and  in  1783  was  commissioned  as  brigadier-gen- 
eral. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  his  law  practice  in  Charleston. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1787,  and  of 
that  called  in  South  Carolina  in  1790  to  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  General  Pinckney  stood  high  in  favour  with  Wash- 
ington, who  offered  him  successively  the  Secretaryship  of  State  and 
the  Secretaryship  of  War,  both  of  which  he  declined.  The  unsatis- 
factory relations  of  the  United  States  ^ith  France  follo\\ing  the  procla- 
mation of  the  Republic  made  the  President  and  his  advisers  determine 
in  1796  that  a  change  of  Ministers  to  that  country  Mas  necessary. 
James  Monroe  was  an  ardent  Republican,  and  had  great  sympathy 
and  admiration  for  the  republicans  of  France. 

The  Directory  was  then  in  the  height  of  its  power,  and  wished  to  treat 
the  United  States  as  a  dependency  and  not  as  a  sovereign  state.  Mr. 
Monroe  accepted  the  personal  regard  and  flattery  which  he  received 
from  the  astute  politicians  then  in  control,  and  \\as  indifferent  to  the 
real  designs  masked  by  their  protestations  of  affectionate  friendship. 
C   266  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

He  alloued  the  remonstrances  sent  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  of  the 
seizure  of  American  vessels  and  goods,  to  be  pigeoned-holed  by  the 
French  officials,  and  made  no  efibrt  to  obtain  redress. 

In  the  summer  of  1796  General  Pinckney  was  appointed  Minister 
to  France.  He  sailed  in  September,  1796.  Professor  McMaster  says, 
in  the  second  volume  of  his  "History,"  page  319 : 

"Accompanied  by  Monroe,  he  presented  the  letters  of  credence  on 
the  afternoon  of  December  ninth.  Delacroix  received  the  two  with 
great  stiffness,  took  the  letters,  said  he  would  submit  them  to  the  Direc- 
tory, and  asked  for  the  baptismal  names  and  ages  of  the  new  Minis- 
ter and  his  secretary,  that  cards  of  hospitality  might  be  made  out. 
No  more  was  heard  of  the  matter  till  the  morning  of  the  eleventh, 
when  a  note  from  Delacroix  was  brought  to  Monroe.  The  Directory, 
he  was  informed,  would  receive  no  Minister  from  the  United  States  till 
the  grie\ances  complained  of  had  been  righted  in  full.  Monroe  sent 
the  note  to  Pinckney,  and  Pinckney  replied.  Delacroix  was  reminded 
that  Pinckney,  not  Monroe,  was  now  Minister  near  the  Republic, 
and  he  was  asked  if,  as  no  cards  had  been  received,  it  was  the  wish 
of  the  Directory  that  the  American  Minister  should  quit  the  soil  of 
France.  Rutledge  bore  the  note,  was  admitted,  and  told  that  the  Ex- 
ecutive Directory  knew  of  no  Minister  Plenipotentiary  from  the  United 
States  since  Citizen  Monroe  had  presented  his  letter  of  recall.  Two  days 
later  the  Chief  Secretary  of  Foreign  Affairs  came  to  explain.  Citizen 
Delacroix  could  hold  no  direct  communication  with  Citizen  Pinckney. 
That  would  be  construed  into  an  official  recognition.  As  for  the  rest. 
Citizen  Pinckney  was  undoubtedly  aware  of  the  law  of  France  as  it 
affected  strangers  on  her  soil.  The  law  alluded  to  forbade  any  for- 
eigner to  stay  more  than  thirty  days  in  France  unless  he  got  a  card 
of  hospitality  or  leave  so  to  do.  Pinckney  replied  that  he  knew  of  this 
decree,  and  asked  if  he  should  leave  the  Republic  or  stay  at  Paris  till 
he  heard  from  home.  The  Chief  Secretary'  did  not  know.  He  would 
report  what  had  been  asked  him  and  return.  It  was  e\  ening  when 
he  came  again,  and  said  that  the  Directory  meant  the  territory  of  the 
Republic,  not  Paris  alone,  and  that  if  Citizen  Pinckney  wished  for 
cards  he  should  address  the  Directory  through  the  Minister  of  Police- 
General.  This  he  refused  with  spirit  to  do,  told  the  Secretary  that  he 
was  not  a  stranger,  that  Delacroix  knew  very  well  in  what  capacity 
he  came,  stayed  on,  and,  the  day  after  the  news  of  Napoleon's  Italian 

:'267  ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

victories  arri^"ed,  recei\ed  directions  in  writing  to  leave  France.  He 
thereupon  crossed  the  border  and  took  up  his  abode  at  Amsterdam." 

This  insolent  menace  and  breach  of  the  comity  of  nations  had  the 
effect  of  arousing  and  exasperating  nearly  every  American.  When,  a 
few  months  later,  the  special  envoys  to  France  were  announced.  Gen- 
eral Pinckney's  name  stood  first.  In  the  course  of  the  negotiations  with 
the  French  Foreign  Office  in  1797,  the  general  uttered  his  famous 
dictum:  "Millions  for  defence,  but  not  one  cent  for  tribute." 

Upon  his  return  to  the  United  States,  General  Pinckney  was  com- 
missioned a  major-general.  In  1800  he  \\as  the  Federalist  candidate 
for  Vice-President.  In  1804  and  1808  he  was  the  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent on  the  Federalist  ticket.  His  activity  as  a  man  of  affairs  and  his 
interest  in  religious  and  social  work  was  a  marked  feature  of  his  later 
years.  He  was  the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  College  of 
South  Carolina,  president  of  the  Charleston  Bible  Society,  and  the 
third  president-general  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  He  died  at 
Charleston  on  August  16,  1825.  See  also  note  on  the  United  States 
Commission  at  Paris,  page  324. 

Sm/th  on  the  American  Constitution. 

The  author  is  William  Lough  ton  Smith,  a  native  of  South  Carolina. 
He  was  a  member  of  Congress  in  1789.  He  was  appointed  in  1797 
Minister  to  Portugal,  and  in  1800  Minister  to  Spain.  He  died  in  1812. 
One  title  is  "Comparative  View  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States."  It  was  published  at  Philadelphia  in  1796,  in  a  quarto  vol- 
ume. A  second  edition  was  published  in  Washington  by  E.  S.  Davis 
in  1832.  Other  works  by  Mr.  Smith  are  : 

Speeches  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  London,  1794 

Address  to  his  Constituents,  1794 

Oration,  July  4,  1796 

Neutral  Trade,  a  pamphlet  in  opposition  to  Thomas  Jefferson 


I   268   J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philad.  March  2z.  1797. 

Dear  John, 

I  HAVE  just  met  with  a  gentleman  who  will  take  charge 
of  the  Books,  I  mentioned  to  you  in  my  last.  He  goes  in 
the  mail-stage  and  I  have  desired  him  to  leave  them  at  the 
Tavern  where  the  stage  stops,  where  you  will  please  to  call 
for  them.  I  believe  I  mentioned  to  you  that  Shuckford's  con- 
ne6lion  of  sacred  &  prophane  history  is  not  to  be  had  in  this 
city.  If  it  is  of  much  importance  for  you  to  have  it,  and  if  you 
think  it  is  probable  it  is  to  be  had  in  New  York,  I  can  desire 
my  Brother  to  look  after  it. 

Your  Mama  has  left  with  me  a  fifty  Dollar  Alexandria  note. 
It  is  impossible  to  get  it  exchanged  here;  and  I  am  sorry  to 
add  that  I  cannot  at  present  with  convenience  send  you  the 
amount  of  it,  or  I  would  chearfully  do  it.  Perhaps,  I  may  be 
able  to  do  it  in  the  course  of  this  week. 

I  hope  you  now  receive  Porcupine's  paper  regularly.  Tho' 
I  do  not  subscribe  for  it,  I  see  it  occasionally,  and  I  am  pleased 
to  see  that  upon  the  whole,  it  is  condu6led  with  more  mod- 
eration than  I  expected. 

The  long  interval  of  news  from  Europe  still  keeps  the  public 
mind  in  suspense  with  respect  to  the  reception  of  Mr  Pinck- 
ney.  The  intelligence  we  have  hitherto  had,  relative  to  his  re- 
je6lion  tho'  apparently  coming  from  different  quarters  seems 
too  uncertain  to  be  relied  on  so  that  no  opinion  can  yet  be 
formed  how  the  business  will  terminate.  The  French  vessels 
in  the  W.  I.  still  continue  their  depredations  on  American  ves- 
sels and  such  is  their  avidity  for  plunder,  that  it  is  not  now 
of  any  consequence,  whether  the  American  vessels  are  bound 

C  269  -] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

for  British  or  French  Ports.  In  either  case,  they  are  instantly 
condemned,  vessel  and  cargo. 

I  have  not  time  to  add  more,  as  I  have  had  but  a  very  short 
notice  of  this  opportunity. 

Affectionately  I  am, 

my  dear  John 
Yours 

James  Robertson. 

Supers(ription  : 

Mr  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATION 


Charles  Cotesworth  Piyickney. 
For  notice  see  page  265. 


C  270  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 
[From  Hannah  Hobart] 

Saturday  morne  l"  April  97 

I  HAD  intended  several  days  past  to  write  to  my  dear  John 
tho'  I  had  not  any  thing  very  material  to  communicate 
but  some  necessary  engagements  have  prevented.  I  write  now 
principally  to  infonn  you  that  Ja*  Robertson  has  not  yet  had 
it  in  his  power  to  do  any  thing  with  the  Note  you  enclosed  in 
your  last  letter  to  me,  but  he  experts  to  send  it  to  Alexandria 
next  monday  to  be  changed.  I  fear  much  that  Ja*  is  in  bad 
health  tho  the  Do6i'  says  he  wants  nothing  but  air  and  exer- 
cise, your  brother  who  was  in  town  last  week  has  invited  him 
to  come  up  to  Potts  Grove  in  hopes  the  jaunt  will  be  of  ser- 
vice to  him  and  I  am  sure  I  hope  it  will,  he  talks  of  going 
next  week,  I  suppose  he  will  not  stay  long  as  they  expeft  the 
spring  vessels  in  soon,  your  brother  in  giving  this  invitation 
has  regarded  J.  R's  benefit  and  his  own  satisfa6lion  more  than 
his  own  convenience,  as  I  know  in  the  present  state  of  his 
finances  it  cannot  be  convenient  to  add  to  his  family,  but  this 
is  a  consideration  that  must  give  way  to  humanity. 

M'  Smith  and  your  Sister  are  well,  the  children  have  the 
whooping  cough,  the  little  one  very  bad,  Anna  is  very  poorly 
tho  better  than  she  has  been,  your  Sister  sends  her  love.  I  have 
heard  from  your  brother  since  he  went  home, they  are  all  well, 
your  brother  said  he  hadexpefted  to  hear  from  you  long  since, 
there  seems  a  necessity  for  him  to  get  into  some  other  way 
to  provide  for  his  family,  but  under  present  circumstances  he 
cant  fix  on  any  thing  that  appears  eligible,  poor  J  P.  he  is  quite 
broke  up,  his  unfortunate  circumstances  adds  to  your  brothers 
embarrassments,  but  I  hope  he  will  in  time  get  over  them. 

Have  you  heard  from  Forsyth .''  I  should  be  glad  to  know  of 
his  welfare. 

C  271  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

I  am  pleasing  myself  with  the  expedlatioii  of  soon  seeing 
my  dear  John,  the  fervent  wishes  for  my  happiness  expressed 
in  your  letters  are  a  proof  of  your  affedlion,  may  they  be 
answerd,  that  my  dear  John  may  enjoy  every  possible  hap- 
piness here  as  well  as  hereafter,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  his 
Affeaionate  ^  j^^^^^^^^ 

I  wish  you  my  dear  John  to  recolle6l  when  you  come  home 
to  bring  all  your  shirts  with  you  that  I  may  see  what  is  to 
be  repaird  and  what  it  will  be  necessary  to  provide  for  next 
winter  as  well  as  for  the  present. 
I  hope  you  receive  your  papers  regularly. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATION 

Joseph  Potts. 

"J.  P."  is  Joseph,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Joanna  (Potts)  Potts,  who  was 
born  atPottsgrove  on  June  2,  1766.  Before  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old  he  entered  into  business  with  his  brother  Thomas  in  Philadelphia. 
After  a  few  years,  which  eventually  were  not  prosperous,  he  returned 
to  his  native  town.  He  then  bought  and  carried  on  the  Glasgow  forge, 
two  miles  from  Pottstown.  He  was  married  on  February  9,  1792,  to 
Sarah,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Aris)  Potts.  She  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1851.  Mr.  Potts  died  on  September  24,  1824,  at  Pottstown. 
The  following  obituary  notice  appeared  in  a  Philadelphia  paper : 
"Died,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  ultimo,  at  Pottstown,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  Mr.  Joseph  Potts, 
one  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  of  that  borough. 

' '  The  deceased  was  deservedly  esteemed  for  soundness  of  judgment, 
correctness,  and  integrity  in  all  his  transactions.  To  a  numerous  fam- 
ily, over  whose  welfare  he  watched  with  unceasing  solicitude,  he  was 
gready  endeared.  Their  consolation  under  their  bereavement  must 
be  sought  in  Him  who  gave  and  who  has  taken  away  their  greatest 
earthly  blessing." 

I   272   ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  April  7.  1797. 

Dear  John, 

YOU  will  receive  enclosed  fifty  Dollars  for  the  Alexan- 
driaNote  which  your  Mama  left  with  me.  I  am  extremely 
sorry  it  has  not  been  in  my  power  to  send  you  this  money 
sooner,  but  I  could  not  get  the  note  changed  here,  and  had 
to  send  it  to  Alexandria.  I  could  not  with  convenience  send  it 
myself,  or  I  would  have  done  it  chearfully. 

From  the  apparent  difficulty  of  doing  this  little  business  for 
you,  I  beg  it  may  not  deter  you  from  applying  to  me  again 
on  a  similar  or  on  any  other  occasion.  All  the  business  you  may 
have  to  do  in  this  city,  that  I  can  do  for  you,  will  be  so  far  from 
being  troublesome  to  me,  that  I  shall  consider  it  as  a  mark 
of  your  confidence  in  the  friendship  I  have  for  you;  and  be- 
sides, I  shall  always  take  a  pleasure  in  doing  it.  I  am  not  much 
given  to  making  professions:  but  when  I  do  make  any  to  you, 
I  trust  they  are  received  as  having  been  made  with  perfe6l 
sinceity. 

You  will  excuse  the  shortness  of  this  letter,  as  the  hour  for 
closing  the  mail  is  nearly  arrived  and  I  am  desirous  of  send- 
ing the  money  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  am  affedlionately  Yours 

James  Robertson. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


C  273  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Friday  14'^  April  I  797 

I  HAVE  been  much  disappointed  in  not  hearing  from  my 
dear  John  in  such  a  length  of  time,  your  last  letter  was 
dated  the  20'''  last  month.  I  dont  doubt  but  your  time  has  been 
necessarily  engaged,  but  still  I  coud  not  help  wishing  a  line 
from  you  if  it  was  only  to  let  me  know  you  were  not  sick, 
indeed  I  had  flatterd  myself  that  I  might  have  seen  you  by 
this  time  but  hope  it  will  not  now  be  many  days  before  I  shall, 
I  have  thought  perhaps  you  may  haveoccasion  for  somemoney 
before  you  will  receive  your  salary  if  you  have,  let  me  know 
and  I  will  try  to  send  you  some.  James  Robertson  has  not  yet 
been  to  Potts  Grove.  I  have  not  been  out  these  ten  days  owing 
to  a  Rhuematic  complaint  in  one  of  my  ancles,  so  that  I  have 
not  seen  him,  but  your  Sister  told  me  the  day  before  yester- 
day that  she  thought  he  was  better,  and  that  he  was  then 
gone  to  Wilmington  on  business.  I  beleive  he  is  expe61:ed  to 
return  to  day.  M'  Smith  and  your  Sister  are  well,  the  children 
are  better.  I  had  a  letter  from  your  brother  a  few  days  ago,  he 
mentions  J'  Robertson's  not  having  yet  come  up  there,  and 
says  perhaps  he  may  come  up  with  you  when  you  come  from 
princeton,  they  were  all  well  except  that  the  young  Robert 
was  inoculated  and  expe6led  every  day  to  sicken  for  the  small 
pox. 

In  the  hope  I  might  receive  a  letter  from  you  first,  I  have 
deferrd  writing  till  it  is  late.  I  have  now  only  time  to  tell  you 
that  I  anxiously  expe6l  to  hear  from  you  at  least,  and  to  see 
you  as  soon  as  possible,  and  am  with  the  tenderest  affe6lion 
and  best  wishes,  as  ever  my  dear  John 

H  Hobart 

C   ^74  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 


I  had  forgot  to  propose  your  letting  me  know  when  I  shoud 
stop  sending  the  papers. 


Superscription : 

M".  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATION 

Robert  Efioch  Hobart,  Jr. 

Robert  Enoch,  a  son  of  Robert  Enoch  and  Sarah  May  (Potts)  Hobart, 
was  born  at  Pottsgrove  on  June  2,  1796.  He  was  married  to  Henri- 
etta, daughter  of  General  William  Rudolph  Smith,  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  Provost  William  Smith.  He  died  at  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania, 
on  May  20,  1869. 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Tuesday  morning  16'''  May  97 

IReceivd  my  dear  John's  letter  yesterday  morning  and 
wishd  to  have  comply 'd  with  your  requisition  immediately 
but  had  it  not  in  my  power  untill  I  applied  to  M'.  Smith.  I 
did  not  get  it  till  the  afternoon  and  now  inclose  five  doll'  as 
I  paid  Ursula  that  day  you  left  me,  I  was  almost  in  your  sit- 
uation when  I  got  your  letter,  and  consequently  was  obliged 
to  get  some  for  myself  as  well  as  what  I  send  you.  I  have 
made  so  many  drafts  that  I  felt  relu6lance  to  apply  again,  and 
have  now  taken  so  sparingly  that  it  will  require  frugality  to 
make  it  hold  out. 

Your  Sister  coud  not  go  to  PG  and  dont  go  to  Frankford 
till  the  beginning  of  June.  I  have  not  heard  from  your  brother 
since  you  went,  only  a  note  by  Ursula,  it  is  near  time  of  close- 
ing  the  Mail,  my  dear  John's  Affe6lionately 

H  Hobart 

Superscription  : 

M^JoHN  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 

C  275  ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATION 

Ursula. 

Ursula  was  evidently  a  family  servant. 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Sunday  21"  May  97 

M^  Hughes  calld  on  me  with  your  letter,  I  had  left  my 
spe6lacles  up  stairs  so  that  I  coud  not  read  it  diredlly 
and  he  appeard  in  a  hurry  and  was  gone  before  I  coud  get 
them,  but  fortunately  I  had  askd  him  to  take  a  glass  of  wine, 
and  he  did,  which  was  all  the  attention  I  coud  pay  him.  I  shall 
send  by  him  two  sticks  of  sealing  wax,  1/2  pint  spirits  of 
wine,  and  four  camels  hair  brushes,  as  I  did  not  know  for  what 
you  woud  use  the  brushes  I  coud  not  tell  what  size  woud  suit 
best,  if  they  are  not  such  as  you  want  let  me  know  and  I  will 
send  others  when  I  can,  black  sealing  wax  is  scarce,  none  at 
Poyntalls  or  Young's  &c  I  had  not  a  Vial  large  enough  for 
spirits  of  wine  and  got  one  at  the  apothecarys,they  made  the 
unreasonable  charge  of  ii"^  for  the  Vial  alone.  I  hope  it  will 
go  safe.  I  am  very  sorry  you  did  not  send  the  di6lionary,  it 
was  such  a  good  opportunity,  your  brother  woud  be  glad  to 
have  it.  I  have  heard  from  P  G.  and  am  assured  the  note  will 
be  taken  up  when  due,  and  the  1 50  from  J  P.  returned  in  four 
weeks  the  other  150  is  expe6led  or  rather  hoped  for  at  the 
same  time.  I  wish  it  was  not  necessary  to  exaft  it,  because  I 
know  there  are  other  demands  and  I  am  afraid  urgent,  it  is 
expefted  the  Furnace  will  be  in  blast  in  a  week.  Your  broth- 
er's Umberella  was  caught  in  the  Shad  net,  they  were  all 
well  last  Wednesday. 
M'  Smith  still  mentions  his  intentions  of  purchaseing  in  the 

C  276  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

N  A  insurance  company  but  it  is  not  done  yet,  I  beleive  they 
have  risen  which  is  rather  an  unlucky  circumstance  for  pur- 
chasers, they  have  one  of  the  clergy  from  the  back  settle- 
ments at  M"^  Smith's,  the  family  are  well,  but  having  goods 
come  in  they  are  busy. 

The  weather  has  been  so  cool  as  to  make  it  more  agreeable 
to  be  at  home  than  it  woud  have  been  at  Frankford,  it  is  now 
growing  warmer,  but  I  am  in  hopes  it  will  not  be  too  warm 
till  we  can  go,  which  I  suppose  we  shall  about  the  beginning 
of  next  month. 

You  mention  my  dear  John, your  intention  of  sending  ten  dol- 
lars. I  shoud  think  it  unnecessary  were  it  not  that  it  may  pre- 
vent my  being  obliged  to  make  another  draft  on  my  banker, 
which  I  do  not  feel  willing  to  do,  so  that  if  you  can  spare  it 
perhaps  it  may  be  as  well,  but  if  not  quite  convenient  dont 
do  it,  the  time  of  our  going  out  of  town  being  so  much  pro- 
tra6led  makes  a  material  difference  with  regard  to  some  cir- 
cumstances. 

I  seem  very  well  at  present,  your  Sister  P.  quite  as  well  as 
usual,  it  gives  me  much  satisfa6lion  to  hear  that  you  are  so 
well  and  particularly  that  the  complaint  in  your  lip  has  dis- 
appeard,  as  well  as  that  it  does  not  at  present  appear  neces- 
sary for  you  to  use  the  bark.  That  your  health  may  be  con- 
tinued, and  that  you  may  enjoy  every  other  blessing  needful 
to  your  happiness  is  the  prayer  of 

my  dear  John's  AfFe6lionate 

H.  HoBART 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 
M'  Hugh's 


C   277  2 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

ANNOTATIONS 

in  I  Ham  Poyntell. 

\\'illiam  Povntell  was  a  manufacturer  of  wall-papers  and  stationery, 

at  No.  21  South  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 

William  Toung. 

William  Young  was  a  printer,  bookseller,  and  stationer,  at  No.  52 

South  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 

Thomas  Edgar  Hughes. 

Thomas  Edgar  Hughes  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New 

Jersey  in  1797.  He  was  made  master  of  arts  in  1800.  He  died  in 

1838. 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Monday  zg*  May  97 

THE  inclosure  in  my  dear  John's  last  letter  was  accept- 
able particularly  as  you  asure  me  it  is  not  inconvenient 
to  yourself  to  send  it,  and  as  it  will  prevent  so  early  an  appli- 
cation as  I  shoud  otherwise  have  been  obliged  to  make.  I  have 
made  so  many  drafts  lately  that  it  is  quite  a  releif  to  me  to 
have  it  in  my  power  to  stop  a  little,  but  I  cannot  help  having 
some  apprehensions  that  you  may  be  straitend  before  you 
will  receive  your  next  supply.  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  avoid 
being  in  debt,  as  that  is  a  situation  which  I  woud  wish  you  to 
be  particularly  guarded  against. 

At  present  it  appears  very  unfortunate  (indeed  it  has  all 
along )  that  M"'  S.  woud  not  be  persuaded  to  layout  that  money 
in  the  insurance  company  of  N.  A.  when  shares  might  have 
been  got  at  20  or  25  p."^  advance  and  now  they  are  from  35  to 
40,  the  last  time  I  talked  with  him  about  it  he  said  he  intended 
to  buy,  they  were  then  at  30, 1  wishd  hiin  to  have  got  them 

C  278  ] 


HANNAH  HOB.\RT 

but  I  have  not  heard  whether  he  has  or  not,  I  suppose  if  he 
had  I  shoud  have  heard,  I  think  it  will  not  do  to  buy  now. 

The  dictionary  was  at  M"^  Smiths  and  I  did  not  know  it  till 
after  I  had  written  to  you.  I  wait  now  for  an  opportunity  to 
send  it  to  your  brother. 

Your  Sister  had  a  letter  from  him  a  few  days  ago,  they  were 
well.  I  expe6l  we  shall  go  to  Frankford  on  Friday,  your  Sister 
goes  on  Thursday. 

I  am  very  glad  my  dear  John  to  hear  you  are  well  and  in 
a  good  disposition  for  study  and  hope  you  will  find  advantage 
in  it. 

The  weather  is  delightfully  pleasant  now. 

I  am  as  ever  my  dear  John's  Affedlionate 

H   HOBART 

I  forgot  to  ask  you  if  there  woud  not  be  enough  of  the  silk 
to  make  you  two  waistcoats  h   h    h 

Superscription  : 

M".  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Frankford  23"' June  1797 

WE  have  been  here  three  weeks  and  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  inform  you  my  dear  John  that  I  find  this  delight- 
ful place,  more  agreeable  if  possible  than  ever,  we  are  all  well, 
your  Sister  P.  included,  as  to  her  health,  and  she  is  otherways 
at  least  as  well  as  ever  she  is. 

H.  Ruff"is  with  us,  and  I  am  pleased  to  see  so  much  harmony 
between  Betsey  and  her, your  Sister  takes  a  great  deal  of  pains 
with  them,  she  makes  them  improve  themselves  in  their  writ- 

C  279  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

ing  and  by  reading  to  her  every  day,  and  is  teaching  them 
geography.  I  think  it  will  be  a  great  advantage  to  them. 
M'  Ruff  has  taken  a  house  in  Arch  Street  near  to  his  store 
which  I  am  very  glad  of. 

I  expe6l  Ja^  Robertson  is  gone  to  Baltimore  this  morning  on 
business  and  I  hope  the  journey  will  be  benificial  to  his  health 
which  seems  to  require  exercise  and  change  of  air. 

M'^*  Miller  has  been  to  Potts  Grove  last  week  and  tells  me 
your  brother  and  family  were  well.  I  have  not  heard  from 
your  brother  since  before  I  left  town.  I  fear  matters  are  not 
to  his  mind  or  he  woud  have  written.  I  am  quite  in  the  dark 
respe6ling  all  affairs  there,  having  heard  nothing  but  what  I 
mentioned  above, except  that  I  have  heard  from  Ja\  Robertson 
that  the  Note  of  J  Ps  is  taken  up.  Your  Sister  dont  mention 
your  brother,  and  I  dont  feel  free  to  say  any  thing  to  M'^  Smith 
as  matters  stand  at  present,  stock  has  risen  so  that  shares  in 
the  insurance  company  have  not  been  got. 

Your  letter  gave  me  much  satisfa6lion  particularly  from  the 
assurances  of  your  health  which  I  hope  you  still  enjoy. 

Your  Sister  sends  love.  I  am  with  my  best  wishes,  my  dear 
John's  Affe6lionate 

H  HoBART 

We  hear  that  many  in  Philad*  have  Bilious  Fevers  I  hope  it 
will  not  prove  the  Yellow  fever. 

Supericriptio7i  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Ha?inah  Webster  Ruff- 

Hannah  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Ruff,  and  married  James 

Robertson.  For  the  children  of  the  marriage  see  page  52. 

[    280    ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

Mrs.  John  Miller. 

The  Mrs.  John  Miller  alluded  to  was  probably  the  wife  of  John 
Miller,  a  merchant,  with  a  store  at  No.  8  Chestnut  Street,  and  a  resi- 
dence at  No.  18  Pine  Street,  Philadelphia. 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Frankford  13"'  July  97 

FROM  my  dear  John's  letter  of  monday  last  I  have  the 
very  great  satisfa6lion  of  learning  that  you  are  favord 
with  the  enjoyment  of  your  health,  which  I  hope  will  be  con- 
tinued to  you  without  interruption,  we  also  have  been  much 
favord  since  we  have  been  here. 

I  have  heard  from  your  brother  several  times  since  I  wrote 
to  you,  he  tells  me  he  has  been  expedling  for  several  weeks 
past  to  be  prepared  to  come  down  to  settle  some  business 
which  was  to  have  been  settled  before  now,  but  as  it  depended 
on  others  and  they  have  been  disappointed,  he  also  has  been 
disappointed,  so  that  it  remains  as  it  was,  whenever  he  has 
written  they  were  all  well,  he  remembers  you  in  his  letter.  I 
expe6led  him  down  on  Saturday,  but  suppose  it  will  again  be 
deferrd  for  a  little  while  as  your  Sister  went  up  there  yester- 
day morning.  M'^  Stocker  was  going,  and  your  Sister  thought 
it  a  good  opportunity  and  went  with  her,  they  intend  to  return 
on  tuesday  or  Wednesday  next. 

Ja^  Robertson  returnd  from  maryland  last  Sunday  when  he 
was  going,  he  told  me  he  woud  dire6l  Cobbett  to  send  the 
papers  on  to  you,  as  he  did  not  know  who  to  depend  on  to  do 
it  while  he  was  gone,  why  Cobbett  has  not  sent  them  I  cant 
tell,  as  I  did  not  expeft  to  see  Ja  R.  till  Sunday,  I  wrote  a  note 
to  him  yesterday  and  requested  him  to  settle  with  Cobbett, 
which  I  suppose  he  will  do. 

C    281    ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

The  money  which  I  deposited  with  M'^  S.  to  purchase  stock 
in  the  insurance  company  remains  still  in  his  hands  except  the 
drafts  which  I  have  from  time  to  time  made  from  it,  as  I  was 
entirely  without  money  when  I  rec'd  your  letter.  I  have  applied 
to  him,  and  will  attend  to  your  request  as  soon  as  I  get  it. 
You  will  see  by  the  papers  what  dividend  the  insurance  com- 
pany have  made,  just  half  as  much  as  they  did  last  time,  the 
company  on  the  day  they  declared  the  dividend,  receivd  an 
account  of  the  French  having  taken  an  east  indiaman  by  which 
they  will  lose  fifty  thousand  dollars,  this  is  not  deduced  from 
the  present  dividend  but  will  be  taken  from  the  next,  so  that 
my  prospe6ls  are  not  very  flattering  to  look  forward,  and  at 
present  as  I  have  not  added  to  my  stock  I  shall  receive  but 
just  half  as  much  as  I  received  on  the  last  dividend. 

If  it  had  been  convenient  for  you  to  come  to  see  us  about 
the  4*''  ins'.  I  certainly  shoud  have  been  very  glad  to  have 
seen  you,  but  am  very  sensible  it  was  not,  must  therefore 
patiently  wait  till  you  have  more  leisure. 

My  dear  John  may  be  assured  that  in  the  mean  time  and 
always  he  has  the  best  wishes  of  his  Affe6lionate 

H  HOBART 

Superscription: 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATION 

Mary  Katherine  Stacker. 

Mary  Katherine,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Martha  (Potts)  Rutter, 
was  born  at  Popodickon,  Pennsylvania,  on  May  23,  1762.  She  was 
married  in  1782  to  John  Clement  Stocker.  Mr.  Stocker  was  a  mer- 
chant of  high  standing,  an  alderman  of  the  citv,  a  director  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Bank,  and  of  the  Pennsj^lvania  Insurance  Company. 
He  was  also  a  vestryman  of  the  united  churches  of  Christ  and  St. 

c  282 : 


HANNAH  HOBART 

Peter,  as  well  as  St.  James's  Church.  He  died  on  October  12,  1813, 
in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his  age. 

Mrs.  Stocker  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy  on  November  30,  1813. 
An  obituary  notice  reads  :  "Of  Mrs.  Stocker  it  may  be  truly  said, 
that  her  unselfish  and  exalted  purity,  her  amiable  and  afi'ectionate 
disposition,  her  kind  and  courteous  deportment,  rendered  her  ines- 
timably valuable  to  her  relatives  and  friends,  and  endeared  her  to  all 
who  had  the  privilege  of  her  acquaintance.  Such  was  the  blameless 
tenor  of  her  life,  and  such  her  habitual  meditation  on  the  inevitable 
approach  of  death,  that  his  coming  to  terminate  her  state  of  proba- 
tion, though  executed  without  warning,  did  not  find  her  unprepared ; 
for  her  spiritual  lamp  was  always  burning  with  a  bright  and  steady 
flame."  [Potts  Memoria/,  p.  263.] 

Robert  Smith. 

Mr.  S.  was,  of  course,  Robert  Smith,  Mrs.  Hobart's  son-in-law, 

who  managed  her  financial  affairs,  as  has  already  been  noted. 


c  283  :\ 


JARED  INGERSOLL 

JARED,  son  of  Jared  and  Hannah  (Whitney)  Ingersoll,  was  born 
in  Connecticut  on  October  24,  1749.  He  was  graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  1766.  He  went  to  England  and  studied  law  at  the 
Middle  Temple,  and  took  a  course  in  literature  imder  excellent  mas- 
ters. After  his  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Pettit  he  seems  to  have 
settled  in  England  and  practised  law. 

After  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution  he  declared  himself  a  patriot 
and  with  his  family  went  to  France,  where  he  was  intimate  with 
Dr.  Franklin  and  Hon.  Ralph  Izard,  then  in  Paris.  He  returned  to 
America  about  1778  and  practised  law  in  Philadelphia.  In  1780  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention  in  1787  which  devised  the  present  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States.  He  held  the  offices  of  city  solicitor  of 
Philadelphia,  attorney-general  of  Pennsylvania,  and  United  States 
district  judge.  He  declined  a  United  States  Circuit  chief  justiceship 
in  1801.  He  was  the  Federalist  candidate  for  Vice-President  in  1812, 
when  De  Witt  Clinton  was  nominated  for  President,  and  received 
86  votes.  His  opponent,  Elbridge  Gerry,  received  131.  In  1821  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  gave  him  the  degree  of  doctor  of  laws.  He  died 
in  Philadelphia  on  October  31,  1822. 


[  From  Jared  Ingersoll  ] 

Philadelphia  July  20'*'  1797. 

Sir 

I  AM  informed  by  my  Son  Charles  that  he  has  the  advan- 
tage of  being  under  your  care  as  Tutor  at  the  College  of 
Princeton. 

As  I  know  he  is  young,  and  as  I  fear  wanting  in  steadiness 

and  attention,  I  request  the  favor  of  you  to  let  me  know  in 

what  manner  he  conducts  himself  in  general,  and  particularly 

at  the  quarterly  examination  this  day. 

I  take  the  liberty  to  give  you  this  trouble  as  probably  my 

C  284  ] 


JARED  INGERSOLL 

observations  to  him  may  aid  you  in  corre6ling  and  removing 
some  of  his  faults  and  defe6^s. 

I  do  not  wish  that  he  should  be  indulged  in  contra6ling  habits, 
of  remissness  and  carelessness,  but  on  the  contrary,  he  knows 
that  I  insist  that  what  he  undertakes  he  shall  do  as  well  as 
he  can,  and  as  he  has  entered  the  Sophomore  Class  I  expert 
that  he  will  exert  himself  to  gain  your  approbation,  and  that 
of  his  other  Preceptors. 
I  am 
Sir 
respedlfully 

Your  obed  hum.  servt 

Jared  Ingersoll 
Mr.  Hobart 

Superscription: 

M".  John  Hobart,  Princeton,  New  Jersey 

ANNOTATION 

Charles  Jared  Ingersoll. 

See  sketch  before  his  letter  of  July  16,  1803,  in  Volume  II. 


C   285  J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Frankford  lo'.''  Aug''  97 

MY  dear  John  will  be  pleasd  to  learn  we  are  all  well 
here.  Your  Brother  accompanied  your  Sister  from  Potts 
Grove;  and  after  he  returned  home  again  he  wrote  to  me  and 
informed  me  they  were  all  well  since  then  I  have  not  heard 
from  them. 

I  am  sorry  I  can't  give  any  very  flattering  accounts  respect- 
ing circumstances  which  I  know  you  are  anxious  to  be  in- 
fonned  of,  there  is  not  at  present  any  prospe6t  of  their  being 
any  better  soon,  and  I  wish  there  was  any  good  foundation 
for  a  hope  that  they  will  not  be  worse.  I  however  still  strive 
to  encourage  that  hope  as  much  as  I  can. 

I  have  not  yet  made  any  addition  to  my  insurance  stock, 
I  wishd  to  have  done  it  long  since;  and  urged  it  immediately 
after  the  last  dividend,  but  shares  were  not  to  be  got  then  at 
the  price  I  thought  it  woud  be  prudent  to  give,  but  as  I  see 
no  prospeft  of  their  falling  but  rather  of  their  rise,  I  have 
again  renewd  my  request  to  M''  Smith  to  endeavor  to  get  them 
at  their  present  price,  which  is  40  p.'^  advance,  but  I  much  fear 
it  will  not  be  done  before  they  rise  still  higher. 

I  have  given  Ja''  Robertson  the  money  he  paid  to  Cobbett 
which  was  four  dollars,  he  thought  it  best  to  pay  the  half  year. 

We  have  very  fine  weather  at  present,  but  this  place  is  so 
much  more  agreeable  than  town,  that  I  feel  happy  to  be  here 
let  the  weather  be  as  it  may,  my  dear  John's  company  woud 
certainly  not  abate  my  happiness,  but  that  I  know  I  must  not 
at  present  desire. 

Your  Sister  and  M'  Smith  do  not  intend  to  go  to  the  sea  shore 
this  summer,  tho  if  they  did  it  woud  be  too  much  out  of  their 
way  to  go  to  princeton,  they  send  their  love. 


HANNAH  HOBART 

I  am  very  glad  to  find  that  you  have  good  health  and  spirits, 
that  you  may  be  favord  with  their  continuance,  is  the  sincere 
wish  of  my  dear  John's  Affedlionate 

H  HoBART 

Superscription: 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Frankford  20"''  Aug*'  97 

SINCE  the  shock  I  receivd  on  hearing  of  the  death  of  your 
greatly  and  deservedly  beloved  friend  I  have  felt  more 
for  you  my  dear  John  than  I  can  find  words  to  express,  you 
are  calld  indeed  to  another  trial,  severe  I  know  it  must  be  but 
yet  I  trust  a  merciful  providence  will  pour  into  your  bosom 
consolation  from  himself,  and  enable  you  with  fortitude  and 
resignation  to  bear  and  submit  to  his  dispensations.  I  am 
conscious  I  can  urge  nothing  on  this  subject  of  which  my  dear 
John  is  not  sensible,  can  therefore  only  hope  you  will  be  as- 
sisted in  your  endeavors  at  an  acquiescence  to  the  will  of  the 
Almighty.  Poor  M'^  Forsyth!  her  affliction  must  be  great  in- 
deed, to  lose  a  beloved  Son  so  suddenly !  and  such  a  Son !  must 
have  been  a  shock  almost  too  great  for  maternal  tenderness 
to  sustain.  The  brother  too!  how  I  feel  for  him,  but  my  dear 
John  will  I  hope  by  example  as  well  as  precept  encourage 
him  to  bear  his  loss  as  he  ought  to  do.  It  is  some  releif  to  me 
find  that  you  have  friends  with  you  who  by  their  kind  atten- 
tions and  sympathy  contribute  all  in  their  power  to  lighten 
your  distress,  let  not  their  efforts  my  dear  John  be  in  vain. 

I  expe6l  your  Sister  will  write  to  you.  You  will  see  from  the 
papers  the  state  of  the  disorder  in  the  city,  people  are  much 
alarmed  particularly  about  Penn  and  Pine  streets,  many  of 

C  287  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

them  have  left  their  homes  and  the  city,  the  Stockers,  both 
families  are  gone  to  Potts  Grove  M'^  and  M"^"^  Miller  and  family 
have  gone  to  theTennants  here  at  Frankford,but  M' Smith 
and  M'  Miller  go  to  town  every  day,  they  think  there  is  no 
danger  at  present  any  where  but  where  it  first  broke  out. 

I  have  not  heard  from  your  brother  since  I  wrote  you  last. 
Your  Sister  P.  and  myself  are  as  well  as  usual. 

I  shall  impatiently  wait  the  time  when  I  may  embrace  my 
dearest  John,  and  you  may  be  assured  you  always  have  the 
best  wishes  of  your  tenderly  afteftionate  Parent 

H  HoBART 

I  wishd  to  have  written  to  you  sooner  but  have  been  entirely 
engaged  with  your  Sister  P.  M"^*  Adams  was  calld  to  town 
yesterday  was  a  week  to  her  Son  who  was  ill  there  of  a  fever 
of  which  he  died  the  next  day  after  she  went,  he  was  ill  but 
four  or  five  days,  it  has  been  thought  best  she  shoud  not  re- 
turn here  immediately,  but  as  she  and  the  family  where  her 
son  died  continue  well  we  think  she  may  return  now,  and  I 
expe6l  her  this  evening. 

Superscription: 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

Robert  Marshall  Forsyth. 
For  notice  see  page  93. 

Disorder  hi  Philadelphia. 

The  allusion  is  to  an  outbreak  of  yellow  fever. 

The  Stockers. 

The  persons  referred  to  are  the  families  of  Anthony  and  Margaret 

C   288   ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

Stocker,  the  father  and  mother  of  John  Clement  Stocker,  and  the 
family  of  John  Clement  Stocker. 

John  Tenant. 

Mr.  John  Tenant  was  the  president  of  the  French  Benevolent  Society. 
As  his  name  is  not  found  in  the  Philadelphia  Directory  or  Gazetteer 
of  the  period,  his  permanent  home  must  have  been  at  Frankford, 
not  then  within  the  city  limits. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Miller. 
For  notice  see  page  281. 

Mrs.  Adams. 

There  were  living  at  this  time  in  Philadelphia  :  Margaret  Adams,  who 
was  a  shopkeeper  on  South  Front  Street,  between  Nos.  357  and  369. 
Mary  Adams,  widow,  mIio  is  called  a  "washer,"  living  on  South 
Fourth  Street,  between  Plumb  and  Shippen  Streets.  Ann  Adams, 
widow,  whose  home  was  on  Fifth  Street,  bet\veen  Lombardy  and 
South.  Mrs.  Adams,  to  whom  Mrs.  Hobart  refers,  was  evidently  the 
nurse  or  attendant  of  her  daughter  Polly. 


[   289  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  August  24.  1797. 

My  Dear  John, 

I  HAVE  always  been  so  negligent  a  correspondent  to  you 
that  I  suppose  you  will  be  as  much  surprized  at  receiving 
a  letter  from  me  as  at  my  long  silence.  While  I  freely  own 
that  I  have  no  good  apology  to  make  for  my  silence,  I  can 
assure  you  that  I  never  think  of  it  without  regret ;  and  that  it 
has  not  been  occasioned  by  indifference,  or  a  want  of  regard 
for  you.  The  many  testimonies  of  your  afl'e(5lion  which  I  have 
experienced,  and  the  happiness  I  have  always  felt  in  your 
company,  has  made  too  deep  an  impression  on  my  heart  to 
be  effaced;  and  altho'  a  mutual  exchange  of  sentiments  during 
a  seperation  is  agreeable,  and  a  very  natural  consequence  of 
mutual  friendship,  yet  I  sensibly  feel  it  is  not  necessary  to  its 
continuance. 

At  the  same  time  that  I  trust  entirely  to  your  goodness  to 
excuse  my  negle6l,  I  cannot  omit  adding  by  way  of  palliation, 
that  I  never  was  fond  of  writing  letters,  and  that  for  these 
nine  months  past  I  have  been  far  from  enjoying  a  very  good 
state  of  health.  Though  I  have  never  been  so  unwell  as  to  be 
confined,  or  unable  to  attend  in  the  store,  yet  my  indisposition 
has  been  generally  accompanied  with  such  a  depression  of 
spirits,  that  no  possible  effort  could  remove,  and  rendered  any 
kind  of  exertion,  out  of  the  common  course  of  business  rather 
irksome.  And  writing  letters,  where  the  necessity  was  not 
great,  was  what  I  feel  very  little  inclination  to  do.  I  may  add, 
too,  that  day  after  day,  during  the  summer  I  had  resolved  to 
write  to  you,  and  that  I  had  frequently  begun  letters,  which 
some  interruption  at  the  time  prevented  me  from  finishing, 
and  then  they  were  negledted. 

[  290  D 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

I  felt  much  benefit  from  my  journey  to  Maryland,  and  have 
been  much  better  since. 

I  most  sincerely  sympathize  with  you  in  the  loss  you  have 
sustained  in  the  death  of  your  much  valued  friend  Mr  For- 
syth. It  must  be  a  severe  trial  to  you.  The  loss  to  his  Mother 
will  be  irreparable.  She  appeared  to  be  passionately  attached 
to  him,  and  he  was  doubtless  looked  up  to  as  the  hopes  of  the 
family.  I  am  sensible  that  the  indulgence  of  greif  on  your  part 
is  unavoidable  nay  I  cannot  blame  it;  yet  I  trust  the  refle61:ion, 
that  it  is  an  a6l  of  that  Being,  who  knows  best  what  is  good 
for  us,  will  moderate  that  sorrow  for  your  loss,  which  it  is 
natural  to  feel,  but  which  when  indulged  to  excess,  would  be 
hurtful  to  yourself,  and  distressing  to  your  friends,  to  some 
of  them  particularly,  whose  happiness  seems  to  be  centered 
in  your  own. 

I  received,  some  time  ago  the  Drft  on  W""  Knox  &  Co.  for 
$100.  It  was  accepted,  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  be  punc- 
tually paid  on  the  1  Sept'  when  I  shall  immediately  send  the 
money.  I  shall  attend  to  purchasing  the  stockings  for  you,  and 
have  no  doubt  I  shall  be  able  to  send  them  in  the  course  of 
a  few  days.  With  respe6l  to  Horsley's  Tra6ls  I  intended  them 
for  yourself;  they  are  entirely  at  your  disposal.  If  it  is  agree- 
able to  yourself  to  let  your  friend  have  them,  it  is  perfe6tly 
so  to  me;  and  if  you  chusel  can  at  any  time  send  for  another 
copy  of  them  for  you. 

I  should  have  been  much  gratified  to  have  seen  you  at  Frank- 
ford  or  Philad.  this  summer,  but  I  take  it  for  granted  it  has 
not  been  convenient  for  you.  I  flatter  myself  however,  with 
that  pleasure  after  the  commencement. 

There  has  been  a  considerable  alarm  among  the  citizens  for 
a  week  or  two  past  about  the  fever.  It  does  not  appear  to  be 
getting  any  better,  nor  does  it  spread  much  from  the  place 

C  291  n 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

where  it  first  broke  out.  The  alarm  is  much  greater  than  the 
danger,  and  the  reports  circulating  thro'  the  country  are  not 
to  be  relied  on.  I  do  not  feel  in  the  least  uneasy  for  myself 
as  it  is  very  healthy  in  our  neighbourhood;  and  as  there  is 
no  necessity,  I  shall  avoid  any  intercourse  with  the  Sick. 

I  have  not  room  to  add  more.  I  shall  write  to  you  again  very 
soon.  I  hope  that  my  long  negle6l  will  not  deprive  ine  of  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  occasionally  from  you. 

I  am,  my  dear  John  Affe6lionately  yours, 
James  Robertson. 

Mr  Smith's  family  are  all  well  at  Frankford,  Mr  S  himself 
has  been  troubled  with  a  sore  throat  a  few  days  past,  but  has 
come  to  the  city  this  forenoon,  much  better. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATIONS 

William  K)wx  &  Co. 

William  Knox  and  Company  were  dry-goods  merchants,  with  a  store 

at  No.  66  South  First  Street.  Mr.  Knox  lived  at  No.  31  Spruce  Street, 

Philadelphia. 

Samuel  Horsley. 

Samuel  Horsley  was  the  son  of  a  clergyman,  and  was  born  in  London 
in  1733.  He  went  to  Westminster  School,  from  which  he  proceeded  to 
Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge.  He  was  graduated  from  the  University  with 
honour.  In  1759  he  became  rector  of  NeM'ington  in  Surrey,  in  suc- 
cession to  his  father.  He  studied  the  scientific  literature  of  the  day, 
and  was  made  a  fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in  1767.  In  1774  he 
published  a  learned  treatise,  called  "Remarks  on  the  Observations 
made  in  the  Late  Voyage  toward  the  North  Pole,  for  determining  the 
Acceleration  of  the  Pendulum." 
In  1776  he  issued  proposals  for  a  complete  edition  of  the  works 
C    292    '} 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

of  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  which  finallj'  appeared  in  1785.  In  1781  he 
was  made  archdeacon  of  St.  Albans.  It  was  in  a  charge  to  the  clergy 
of  his  archdeaconry,  on  May  22,  1783,  that  he  first  combatted  the 
position  taken  by  Dr.  Priestley  in  his  famous  book,  "History  of  the 
Corruptions  of  Christianity."  Other  pamphlets  and  papers  were  is- 
sued by  him  during  the  controvers)-,  in  which  he  showed  marked 
power,  and  grasp  of  the  subjects  discussed,  and  a  learning  that  was 
both  accurate  and  deep.  Occasionally  he  allowed  himself  to  descend 
to  bitterness  and  intolerance.  His  seventeen  "Letters,"  however,  is  a 
controversial  treatise  that  deserves  the  encomium  it  received.  In  1788 
he  was  made  Bishop  of  St.  David's;  in  1793  he  was  translated  to 
Rochester,  and  in  1802  to  the  see  of  St.  Asaph.  He  died  at  Brighton 
on  October  4,  1806.  Bishop  Horsley  wrote  much  and  usually  well. 
His  sermons  were  long  popular,  and  his  practical  tracts  were  of  great 
benefit.  It  is  to  a  collection  of  these  tracts  that  reference  is  made  in 
Mr.  Robertson's  letter. 


[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philadelphia  August  29.  1797. 

My  dear  John, 

I  SENT  to  yoti  on  Saturday  last  4  pair  blk  silk  stockings, 
and  desired  the  Gent"  who  took  charge  of  them  to  leave 
them  with  the  keeper  of  the  tavern  where  the  stage  stoped. 
If  you  have  not  yet  got  them  you  can  call  there  for  them. 
They  are  some  we  had  in  the  store  of  good  quality,  at  24  /  a 
pair.  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  suit  you. 

I  was  highly  gratified  tho'  on  a  melancholy  occasion,  with 
the  tribute  you  paid  to  the  memory  of  your  late  worthy  friend. 
It  would  I  am  persuaded  afford  the  same  kind  of  gratifica- 
tion, perhaps  some  consolation,  to  his  relatives  and  friends; 
which  I  believe  will  include  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance. 

As  I  thought  it  probable  he  had  some  friends  in  New  York 

C  293  2 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

I  desired  my  Brother  to  have  the  Sketch  of  his  chara6ler  pub- 
lished in  one  of  the  papers  there;  but  it  had  been  done  in 
"The  Minerva,"  I  suppose  at  your  desire.  I  sent  you  two  of 
Fenno's  papers  last  week,  being  all  he  had  left  of  that  date. 

I  am  really  at  a  loss  what  to  say  about  the  fever.  It  appears 
to  spread  very  little,  and  there  are  not  more  deaths,  than  are 
usual  at  this  season  of  the  year.  I  am  persuaded  that  were  it 
not  for  the  name  of  Yellow  fever,  and  the  dreadful  visitation 
of  1793,  all  the  sickness  and  deaths  in  the  city  this  season 
would  not  occasion  in  the  most  timid  minds,  the  smallest  appre- 
hensions of  danger.  The  only  thing  deserving  of  notice  is,  and 
it  is  a  little  serious,  a  malignant  fever  does  exist,  and  being 
confined  to  a  small  space,  the  number  of  deaths  are  more 
readily  known,  and  observed,  and  occasion  more  uneasiness 
than  if  the  same  number  died  in  different  parts  of  the  city. 
But  still  the  disorder  is  by  no  means  so  virulent,  as  in  1793, 
and,  when  those  who  are  seized  with  it  have  proper  attention 
paid  to  them,  a  recovery  is  almost  certain. 

I  can  repeat  with  confidence,  what  has  often  been  said,  that 
the  city  generally  was  never  so  healthy  at  this  season  as  it 
is  at  present  and  particularly  in  our  neighbourhood,  I  cannot 
think  there  is  any  more  danger,  than  there  is  twenty  miles 
from  the  city. 

Yet,  notwithstanding,  this  favourable  account  and  I  verily  be- 
lieve it  to  be  true,  it  is  astonishing,  and  distressing  to  observe 
the  panic  which  has  seized  the  citizens.  They  are  flying  from 
every  quarter,  as  if  it  were  from  the  raging  of  the  plague. 
No  part  of  the  city,  not  the  most  open  and  airy  is  free  from 
the  general  alarm.  And  all  kind  of  business  is  at  a  stand. 

Tho'  personal  danger  is  out  of  the  question,  it  is  impossible 
to  remain  in  the  city,  without  being  greatly  distressed  at  the 
misery,  which  has  already,  and  will  be  occasioned  by  these 

[  294  ] 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

groundless  fears.  Many  poor  families  have  been  obliged  to 
dispose  of  part  of  their  small  stock  of  furniture  to  raise  a  little 
money  to  enable  them  to  remove  from  the  city.  And  as  many 
of  them  depended  on  their  daily  labour  for  their  daily  subsist- 
ance  their  being  thrown  out  of  employment,  will  occasion  the 
greatest  distress.  I  cannot  therefore  help  thinking  that  those 
who  have  been  most  a6live  in  sounding  the  alarm,  are  greatly 
to  blame. 

You  may  expeft  to  hear  from  me  on  friday  next,  and  believe 
me  to  be  my  dear  John  Affedl'y 

Yours 

J.  Robertson. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


ANNOTATION 

The  Minerva. 

The  first  daily  paper  in  the  city  of  New  York  made  its  appearance 
on  December  9,  1793.  It  was  called  "The  Minerva."  It  was  founded 
by  Noah  Webster  of  Connecticut,  who  at  a  later  date  gained  inter- 
national fame  as  the  author  of  the  Spelling-Book  and  the  Ameri- 
can Dictionary,  which  has  established  American  usage  for  nearly  one 
hundred  years.  As  an  editor,  Noah  Webster  was  careful,  satirical, 
astute,  able.  In  his  announcement  he  said  that  his  paper  was  to  be 
"the  friend  of  government,  of  freedom,  of  virtue,  and  every  species 
of  improvement."  A  weekly  edition  for  country'  circulation  was  called 
"The  Herald."  It  was  published  by  George  Bunce  and  Company 
until  May,  1796,  then  by  Hopkins,  Webster,  and  Company.  In  1799 
Mr.  Webster  withdrew  from  the  firm,  and  the  paper  was  published 
by  his  nephe\\",  Ebenezer  Belden. 

In  1803  Mr.  Belden  sold  it  to  Zachariah  Lewis.  The  name  had  then 
been  changed  to  "The  Commercial  Advertiser"  for  the  daily,  and 
"The  New  York  Spectator"  for  the  weekly  issue. 

In  1820  Colonel  William  L.  Stone  became  the  editor.  Under  him  it 

was  brilliant  and  powerful.  Established  as  a  staunch  Federalist  organ, 

C   295   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

it  became  under  Colonel  Stone  a  firm  adherent  of  the  Clintonian  fac- 
tion of  the  party,  as  the  followers  of  De  Witt  Clinton  were  called,  and 
at  a  later  day  a  supporter  of  John  Quincy  Adams  against  Andrew- 
Jackson.  It  was  an  esj)ecially  strong  mediator  between  the  Anti- 
Masonic  and  Masonic  supporters  in  the  years  when  Freemasonry 
was  a  polidcal  issue. 

Subsequently  it  became  a  povverfvd  Whig  paper.  Upon  the  death  of 
Colonel  Stone  in  1845,  his  interest  was  transferred  to  John  B.  Hall.  In 
1856  it  became  a  Republican  paper  upon  the  formation  of  that  party. 
On  January  1,  1863,  it  was  assigned  to  William  Henry  Hurlbert, 
a  very  able  editor.  Passing  into  the  possession  of  the  famous  editor 
and  politician,  Thurlow  Weed,  it  had  for  a  new  editor  Hugh  Hast- 
ings of  x\lbany.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Hastings  in  1883,  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Parke  Godwin,  a  former  editor  of  the  "Evening  Post." 
In  1892  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  its  present  owners,  who,  on  Feb- 
ruarv  1,  1904,  reduced  its  price  from  two  cents  to  one  cent  a  copy, 
and  changed  its  cumbersome  and  misleading  name  to  "The  Globe." 


[  296  :\ 


HANNAH  HOBART 
[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Frankford  2''  Sept^  '797 

A  Variety  of  circumstances  however  trifling  in  them- 
selves, sometimes  operate  on  my  mind  so  as  to  make 
me  feel  an  indisposition  and  almost  an  incapacity  for  writ- 
ing, even  to  my  dear  John,  it  has  lately  been  too  much 
the  case,  but  I  must  try  to  overcome  it  as  I  wish  not  any 
longer  to  defer  an  answer  to  your  affe6lionate  and  interest- 
ing letter. 

The  tender  sympathy  and  affe6lionate  attentions  you  receive 
from  your  amiable  companion  merits  my  warmest  acknow- 
ledgements, and  the  kind  invitation  he  has  given  you  evidence 
the  sincerity  of  his  professions.  I  join  my  dear  John  in  the 
opinion  that  a  change  of  scene  is  necessary  for  you,  and  that 
exercise  and  a  relaxation  from  your  studies  and  present  en- 
gagements will  be  beneficial  to  your  health  and  spirits.  I  can- 
not then  withold  my  assent  to  your  accepting  M''  Mercer's 
invitation  tho  I  shall  thereby  be  deprived  of  a  happiness  I  have 
long  been  anticipating,  that  of  having  you  with  me  during  the 
vacation,  in  this  however  I  cheerfully  acquiesce,  for  if  my 
dear  John  is  not  well  and  happy  I  cannot  be  so. 

I  am  pleasd  that  you  have  determined  to  decline  going  by 
water  if  the  fever  shoud  continue,  in  that  case  we  shall  expeft 
you  here  as  soon  as  you  can  after  the  vacation  commences, 
if  the  city  shoud  be  entirely  free  from  the  fever  as  well  as 
every  other  place  in  the  rout  from  princeton  to  Fredericks- 
burg, and  you  conclude  to  go,  I  suppose  you  will  go  in  the 
stage,  and  then  you  will  certainly  stop  here,  in  the  mean  time 
I  wish  you  my  dear  John  to  inform  me  if  there  is  any  thing 
you  will  want  that  I  can  get  ready  before  you  go,  if  there  is 

I  297  u 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

let  me  know  as  soon  as  you  can  and  how  much  money  you 
will  want  and  I  will  provide  it. 

I  had  a  few  lines  from  your  brother  since  I  wrote  to  you  last, 
just  informing  me  they  were  well.  Your  Sister  B  has  been  a 
little  indisposed  for  a  few  days,  but  is  now  well  she  sends  her 
love.  M""  Smith  and  the  children  are  also  well.  Your  Sister  P. 
and  myself  as  usual. 

I  am  encouraged  my  dear  John  to  hope  your  endeavors  for 
a  cheerful  resignation  to  the  will  of  providence  will  be  suc- 
cesful,  may  all  his  dispensations  be  blest  to  you  and  may 
you  soon  be  favord  with  perfe6l  health  and  a  return  of  your 
naturally  good  spirits,  sincerely  prays 

Your  ever  affeftionate  Parent 

H  HOBART 

let  me  know  if  I  shall  send  the  money  to  you. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


C  298  J 


JAMES  ROBERTSON 

[  From  James  Robertson  ] 

Philad^  Sept'  2.  I  797. 

Dear  John, 

YOU  will  receive  enclosed  Eighty  eight  Dollars  which, 
after  dedu(ii:ing  the  price  of  the  Silk  Stockings,  as  nearly 
as  I  could  make  the  change,  is  the  amount  of  the  draft  you 
lately  sent  me. 

The  fever  does  not  appear  to  get  worse,  nor,  is  it  yet  entirely 
subsided.  The  weather  for  these  two  days  past  has  been  very 
unfavourable;  but  as  there  are  so  few  people  remaining  in  the 
neighbourhood  where  it  prevails,  and  from  the  exertions  of 
the  Committee  of  health,  it  is  not  probable  it  will  spread  to 
any  alarming  degree.  There  is  no  case  of  the  fever  near  us, 
nor  indeed  in  any  of  the  principal  streets  of  the  city. 

As  I  am  alone  in  the  store,  and  having  several  things  to 
attend  to  this  forenoon,  you  will  I  trust  excuse  the  shortness 
of  this  letter. 

I  am,  my  dear  John 

Aft'e6lly  Yours, 

James  Robertson 

Superscription : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton. 


C  299  ] 


REBECCA  SMITH 

THE  sister  to  whom  Hobart  addressed  the  following  letter  was 
Rebecca,  who  was  born  in  1760.  She  married  twice,  first  in 
1782,  Nathaniel  Potts,  who  died  April  26,  1784;  and  secondly,  Jiily 
6,  1791,  Major  Robert  Smith.  For  fuller  notice  see  page  13.  See  also 
note  on  her  death  which  comes  after  the  letter  from  Charles  Fenton 
Mercer,  of  October  14,  1802,  in  Volume  II. 


[  John  Hexry  Hobart  to  his  Sister  Rebecca  ] 

Princeton,  September  3"'.  1 797. 

HOir  shall  I  thank  my  dear  Sister  for  that  affectionate  sym- 
pathy &  consolation  which  have  contributed  to  restore 
peace  to  my  tnind.  True  indeed  the  participation  of  grief  will  not 
remove  the  heavy  load — but  the  feeling  heart  that  has  itself  been 
wounded  by  affliSlion  can  speak  zvith  a  tenderness  that  assuages 
the  poignancy  of  sorroiv,  &  is  able  to  offer  those  bright  hopes 
that  were  its  ozvn  comfort  &  support — 

Ah  my  Sister  miserable  indeed  are  those  zvhom  Heaven  has gf  ted 
with  sensibility  if  death  is  to  tear  from  them  forever  the  obje&s 
of  their  ardent  &  virtuous  affection.  If  sensibility  be  not  a  crime, 
if  indeed  it  be  not  our  free  choice,  why  should  it  be  made  our 
misery — and  oh !  what  misery  can  be  greater  than  that  which 
accompanies  the  thought  that  we  have  parted  forever  from 
those  whom  we  loved  as  our  own  souls.  If  this  destiny  aivaits 
congenial  spirits  zvhose  hopes  &  ejijoyments  here  have  been  boutid 
together  by  mutual  affe^llon,  enviable  must  appear  to  them  the 
lot  of  the  savage,  enviable  even  that  of  the  brutes  zvho  live  zcith- 
oul  feeling  and  without  hope.  No,  God  zvho  is  love,  eternal  love, 
has  not  meant  thus  to  sport  zvith  his  creatures.  He  has  given  us 
virtuous  feelings  to  be  i?idulged  &  he  seperates  the  obje£ls  of  our 

L  300  ] 


HOBART  TO  HIS  SISTER 

affe£iio7iJrom  us  only  that  being  less  bound  to  this  world  we  may 
love  it  less,  &  aspire  constantly  after  another  zvhere  zee  look  for 
the  full  &  perfett  fruition  of  every  virtuous  sentiment  &  feeling 
— Oh!  hozv  precious  in  this  light  is  the  hope  of  immortality ;  to 
the  wounded  spirit,  what  a  balm  does  it  apply.  The  resurre^ion 
of  these  frail  &  corruptible  bodies  to  purity  &  glory  becomes  a 
truth  consoling  &  valuable  indeed  zvhen  zve  consider  that  in  this 
perfect  state  zee  shall  be  united  to  those  we  have  loved  in  an  in- 
dissoluble bond.  Well,  might  the  Apostle  in  offering  it  to  our  faith 
say — "Comfort  one  another  zvith  these  words." 

Founded  on  this  basis  my  soul  is  at  peace — it  seems  to  defy  the 
tempests  of  life — Calm  in  the  assurance  that  God  is  love,  that 
he  regards  his  creatures  zvith  infinite  kindness,  &  is  desirous  to 
conduct  them  by  chastisement  as  zve II  as  mercy  to  his  gracious 
favour,  &  to  an  eternal  rest  in  heaven,  the  gloomy  prospedl  of 
life  brighte?is  for  me  into  joy,  "Ssf  even  the  dark  valley  of  the 
shadozv  of  death  is  enlivened  by  hope. 

It  has  not  been  indeed  zvithout  many  doubts  and  much  an.xiety 
that  my  mitid  has  become  settled  in  this  state.  I  have  been  fear- 
ful that  particular  attachments,  strong  as  mine  have  been,  were 
inconsistent  zvith  a  sincere  love  to  God  &  therefore  improper. 
At  the  same  time  I  felt  they  zvere  deeply  seated  in  my  breast  & 
that  my  happiness  zvas  connected  zvith  their  indulgence.  But  this 
apprehension  arose  from  an  erroneous  viezv  of  the  perfe^ions  of 
God.  Infinite  in  love  &  goodness — he  has  made  us  to  be  happy 
&  whatever  contributes  really  to  our  happiness  must  be  pleasing 
to  him.  The  virtue,  tenderness  &  goodness  which  excite  sincere 
friendship  &  affeSlion  is  his  image  in  the  soul,  &  in  this  sense 
to  love  the  creature  is  to  love  the  adorable  creator.  It  is  only  a 
false  love  for  the  zvorld,  its  honors  &  pleasures,  it  is  only  such 
attachment  as  corrupts  instead  of  cherishing  virtuous  feeling, 
that  his  holy  eye  condemns.  And  zvhen  virtuous  affedtionfixes  too 
I  301   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

fondly  on  its  object,  when  it  becomes  so  immoderate  in  its  exer- 
cise as  to  destroy  our  peace,  or  so  rational  &  pure  in  its  enjoy- 
ments as  to  make  this  life  a  place  of  reward  instead  of  pro- 
bation, &  induce  us  to  say  with  the  disciples  "it  is  good  for 
us  to  be  here,"  then  a  gracious  parent  pities  the  zveakness  of 
his  children,  &  by  his  merciful  corredlion  &  trial  he  leads  them 
back  to  duty,  &  reminds  them  that  they  are  to  live  by  faith;  — 

faith  in  his  goodness  &  zcisdom — faith  in  his  power  &'  truth  — 
who  has  promised  a  blessed  &  eternal  inheritance  beyond  the 
grave. 

Yes  I  feel  that  such  vieivs  exalt  &  purify  the  soul  &  fix  it 
more  firmly  in  the  divine  faith  &  love.  They  bind  it  to  God 
thus  infinite  in  goodness — they  endear  to  it  the  gracious  redeemer, 
who  by  his  suffering  &  death  has  purchased  for  it  eternal  life, 
&  has  opened  the  prospe6l  of  that  full  perfe6lion  of  being 
&  enjoyment,  which  alone  sheds  consolations  on  this  vale  of 
tears  &  misery.  Ahl  if  I  could  always  have  these  bright  views, 
how  could  I  enjoy  the  world  &  yet  live  above  it,  zvith  zvhat 
resignation  &  cheerfulness  would  I  pass  thro' my  pilgrimage  be 
it  long  or  short. 

J.   H.   HoBART. 

Copy.  To  M''^  R  Smith  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  R.  M.  Forsyth, 
Princeton,  Sept.  3"'  1797. 


ANNOTATION 


Robert  Marshall  Forsyth. 
For  notice  see  page  93 . 


C  302  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Frankford  22I  Sept"^  '797 

I  AM  happy  my  dear  John  in  finding  you  are  well.  I  ex- 
pe6led  you  were  necessarily  engaged  or  shoud  have  been 
uneasy  at  not  hearing  from  you. 

I  have  enquired  and  find  the  Lancaster  Stage  starts  from 
Dunwoody's  Tavern  on  mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Fridays 
at  four  O'clock  in  the  morning.  As  Dunwoody's  tavern  is  at 
the  upper  end  of  Market  Street  near  eighth  street,  M"^  Smith 
and  M'  Robertson  think  there  woud  be  no  danger  of  the  fever 
there,  and  that  a  conveyance  may  be  had  from  Frankford 
to  the  stage  house,  or  to  the  middle  ferry  ( which  they  cross ) 
or  perhaps  further  up  the  road  if  more  agreeable.  They  appre- 
hend the  only  danger  of  the  fever  woud  be  if  there  shoud  hap- 
pen to  be  any  person  in  the  stage  who  might  be  infe6led.  This 
is  a  risk  possible  in  any  of  the  stages,  tho  we  will  hope  it  does 
not  often  occur. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  how  happy  we  shall  all  be  to  see  my 
dear  John;  but  am  requested  to  mention  that  M"^  Mercer's 
company  will  add  to  our  pleasure. 

Your  brother  came  from  Potts  Grove  this  day  two  weeks 
and  returned  the  next  sunday,  he  left  his  family  well  except 
his  little  Robert  who  was  a  little  indisposed,  we  have  not  heard 
from  him  since. 

We  are  all  as  well  as  usual  here.  M"^  Robertson  goes  to  town 
and  returns  evry  day,  and  M"^  Smith  almost  as  often. 

Your  Sister  joins  in  much  love  to  you  with  my  dear  John's 
ever  Affe6lionate 

H  Hobart 


[  303  u 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

You  do  not  say  how  much  money,  I  enclose  twenty  dollars, 
if  not  sufficient  let  me  know  and  I  will  send  more  immediately. 
I  have  written  in  haste 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATION 

Dunwoody's  Tavern. 

This  inn  was  a  popular  place  of  resort,  and  man}-  public  meetings  were 
held  there.  Its  location  on  Market  Street,  above  Eighth,  in  Philadel- 
phia, was  verj^  central.  During  the  stirring  times  of  the  spring  of  1798, 
when  the  Pennsylvania  Senate  had  adopted  on  March  20  a  resolu- 
tion declaring  "that  the  representatives  of  Pennsylvania  bear  their 
public  testimony  against  war  in  any  shape  or  with  any  nation  unless 
the  territories  of  the  United  States  shall  be  invaded,  but  more  especially 
against  a  people  with  whom  our  hearts  and  hands  have  been  lately 
united  in  friendship,"  a  notable  gathering  was  held  there.  It  was 
upon  the  evening  of  April  12  that  the  residents  of  the  city,  South- 
wark,  and  Northern  Liberties,  assembled  to  consider  the  political  situ- 
ation. Colonel  Gurney  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Samuel  W.  Fisher 
was  chosen  as  secretar}-.  The  questions  at  issue  were  full}-  discussed. 
At  the  close  of  the  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted  which  asserted 
that  all  had  been  done  which  could  be  done  to  restore  harmony  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  France.  Joseph  Thomas,  Andrew  Bay- 
ard, Samuel  Wheeler,  Joshua  Humphreys,  Henry  Pratt,  Levi  Hol- 
lingsworth,  and  Joseph  North  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare 
an  address  to  the  President  and  pledge  to  him  the  hearty  support 
of  the  merchants  and  citizens  generally.  For  the  resolutions  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Southwark  and  Northern  Liberties,  passed  at  this 
tavern,  see  note  after  the  letter  of  James  Robertson  of  May  14,  1798, 
in  Volume  II. 


[   304   ] 


HENRY  AXTELL,  JR. 

[  From  Henrv  Axtell,  Jr.  ] 

Mendham  Sept.  23II  1797 

Dear  Sir, 

I  CAN  assure  you  I  received  yours  by  M"^  Thompson  with 
no  common  satisfa6lion.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your 
wishes  for  my  health  &  welfare,  &  for  your  congratulation  on 
my  marriage  &  settlement  in  life.  Your  sentiments  on  earthly 
enjoyments  I  highly  esteem,  &  hope  I  may  profit  by  them. 
Disappointments  I  am  sensible  are  necessary  to  keep  us  in 
mind  of  our  eternal  concerns,  &  I  have  reason  to  believe  my 
greatest  share  of  them  is  yet  to  come.  I  have,  however,  not 
been  entirely  free  from  them ,  nor,  ( as  I  hope )  have  they  been 
entirely  lost  upon  me — though  it  is  more  than  probable  I  have 
not  made  a  proper  improvementof  them.  I  havesome  reason  to 
believe  you  condemn  me  for  entering  so  suddenly  into  the  mar- 
riage state — &  I  suppose  it  will  be  difficult  to  convince  a  phi- 
losopher, &  especially  a  college  philosopher,  that  there  can  be 
any  reason  for  justification.  The  business,  however  is  done,  & 
it  is  now  too  late  for  repentance  on  that  score,  even  supposing 
I  had  sufficient  ground  for  it,  which,  by  the  by,  I  must  tell  you 
is  not  the  case.  Suffice  it  to  say  I  was  advised  to  take  that  step 
by  my  most  sincere  friends,  who  perfedlly  knew  my  circum- 
stances in  life.  I  have  made  inquiry  for  Paley's  view  of  the 
evidences  of  Christianity,  but  have  not  yet  been  able  to  find 
it.  I  intend  to  read  it  with  care  when  I  can  get  it,  since  it  is 
recommended  by  one,  whose  judgement  I  highly  esteem.  I 
wrote  to  M"^  Thompson  some  time  before  he  left  college,  to 
pay  you  for  Newton's  letters,  promising  to  settle  it  with  him 
on  his  return  to  Mendham.  He  however  had  not  money  to 
spare  at  that  time.  I  now  send  by  him  i  dollar,  of  which  you 

C  305  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

will  please  to  take  yoiir  P^v,  or  if  the  price  be  more  than  a 
dollar  M"^  T.  will  pay  you.  I  thank  you  for  your  kindness  in 
sending  it  to  me 

&  am  with  high  esteem  yours  &c 

H.  AXTELL 

Superscription: 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  New  Jersey  College 
M'  Thompson. 

ANNOTATIONS 

Stephen  Thompsoji. 
For  notice  see  page  240. 

M^illiam  Paley. 

William  Paley  was  born  at  Peterborough,  England,  in  1743.  His 
father  \^'as  then  a  minor  canon  of  the  cathedral,  but  soon  after  re- 
turned to  his  former  parish,  Giggleswick,  in  the  West  Riding  of  York- 
shire, as  master  of  the  grammar  school.  In  1759  the  son  was  entered 
as  a  sizar  at  Christ's  College,  Cambridge.  Two  years  of  his  course 
were  spent  in  idleness,  but  were  succeeded  b}^  such  severe  study  that 
he  was  graduated  as  a  Senior  Wrangler  in  1763.  For  three  j-ears  he 
was  an  assistant  master  in  the  Greenwich  Grammar  School.  In  1768 
Mr.  Paley  became  fellow  and  tutor  of  Christ's  College.  In  1776  he  was 
presented  to  the  rectory  of  Musgrove,  Westmoreland,  and  the  vicar- 
age of  Dalston,  Cumberland.  These  were  exchanged  in  a  short  time 
for  the  rectorv  of  Applebv.  In  1780  he  was  made  a  prebend  of  the 
Carlisle  Cathedral.  In  1782  he  was  made  archdeacon,  and  in  1785 
chancellor  of  the  Diocese  of  Carlisle.  It  was  in  1785  that  his  first  nota- 
ble book  was  published,  "  Principles  of  Moral  and  Political  Philoso- 
phy." In  1790  he  issued  "Horae  Paulinae,"  still  of  real  value.  In 
1794,  "View  of  the  Evidences  of  Christianity."  This  book  aimed  to 
meet  the  objections  then  urged  against  the  faith.  It  is  now  entirel)- 
without  value  for  its  purpose,  as  the  basis  of  non-Christian  criticism 
and  attack  has  entirely  changed. 

Archdeacon  Paley  was  hailed  as  a  true  and  valiant  champion  of  the 

faith.  He  Mas  given  a  prebendal  stall  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  Lon- 

C   306   ] 


HENRY  AXTELL,  JR. 

don,  made  sub-dean  of  Lincoln,  and  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Wear- 
mouth,  in  the  Diocese  of  Durham.  In  1802  his  "Natural  Theology" 
brought  him  even  a  higher  reputation  than  that  he  already  enjojed. 
He  died  on  May  25,  1805. 


[  307  n 


HOB.AJIT  CORRESPONDENCE 
[  From  Jared  Ingersoll  ] 

Bristol  Sept.  zj'^  1797. 

Sir 

MY  Son  Charles  being  one  of  the  Class  which  I  under- 
stand has  been  under  your  immediate  Superintendency 
I  am  anxious  to  know  whether  he  has  profited  by  your  good 
Instru6tions. 

I  wish  to  know  in  which  particular  Study  he  has  most  need 
of  application  &  assistance,  that  I  may  urge  him  to  such  pur- 
suits during  a  part  of  the  approaching  Vacation,  as  shall  enable 
him  to  meet  his  Class  upon  equal  terms  the  next  Session. 

I  am  sensible  that  your  time  must  be  very  much  engrossed 
at  present  with  the  business  of  Commencement  I  do  not  there- 
fore desire  that  you  should  divert  your  attention  from  more 
important  Objects  to  attend  to  this  Request,  but  only  ask  a 
Line  upon  the  subje6l,  when  convenient  to  you 
I  am 
Sir 
Respeflfully 
your  obed 
hum  servt 

Jared  Ingersoll 

M".   HOBART. 

Superscription  : 

M".  HoBART,  Princeton. 


:  308  ] 


HENRY  GAHN 

HENRY  Gahn,  the  name  is  also  spelled  Ghan,  was  a  merchant 
in  Gold  Street,  New  York  City,  in  the  year  1796.  Before  1800 
he  removed  to  No.  30  Broad  Street.  From  1804  he  was  consular 
agent  for  Sweden.  Upon  September  4,  1809,  the  two  hundredth  an- 
niversary of  the  discovery  of  the  Hudson  River  was  celebrated  under 
the  auspices  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  In  the  presence  of 
the  governor,  Daniel  Tompkins,  the  mayor  and  corporation,  and  a 
distinguished  company  of  guests,  an  historical  oration  was  delivered 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Miller,  then  associate  pastor  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York,  in  the  front  court-room  of  the  City 
Hall.  Immediately  after,  the  company  went  to  the  City  Hotel  on  Broad- 
way, north  of  Trinity  Church,  where  dinner  was  served.  Among  the 
invited  guests  were  ex-Mayor  Marinus  Willet,  Judge  Nathaniel  Pen- 
dleton, Theodorus  Bailey,  the  postmaster,  Colonel  Peter  Curtenius, 
Charles  Baldwin,  and  Henry  Gahn,  the  Swedish  consul.  The  viands 
served  were  "a  variety  of  shell  and  other  fish  with  which  our  waters 
abound,  wild  pigeons  and  succotash  (Indian-corn  and  beans),  the 
favorite  dish  of  the  season,  with  the  different  meats  introduced  into 
this  country  by  the  European  settlers."  It  was  a  banquet  in  keeping 
with  the  historical  spirit  of  the  occasion,  all  modern  delicacies  having 
been  rigidly  excluded.  After  the  regular  toasts  had  been  drunk  and 
responses  made,  several  volunteer  toasts  were  offered ;  among  them 
was  this  by  Mr.  Gahn : 

"The  mouth  of  the  Hudson.  May  it  soon  have  a  sharp  set  of  teeth 
to  show  in  its  defence." 


[  Henry  Gahn  to  Mary  Goodin  Chandler  ] 

New  York  Oftober  6'.''  1 797. 

THERE  are  but  few  Agreements  in  the  world  which 
need  an  apology  for  being  fullfilled  before  the  time  ori- 
ginally fixed  and  appointed.  The  liberty  I  now  usurp  of  writing 
you  one  day  sooner,  than  the  permission  you  were  pleased  to 

C  309  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

grant  me  in  the  beginning  of  the  week  litterally  warrants  me 
to  do,  may  probably  be  looked  upon  as  a  breach  of  contract, 
especially  as  I  am  not  certain  whether  it  shall  be  in  my  power 
to  transmit  the  expedled  theatrical  information  before  the  mail 
closes.  Yet  I  throw  myself  upon  your  mercy  from  which  I 
hope  to  derive  even  that  forgiveness  which  unfeeling  justice 
might  deny  an  humble  petitioner! 

I  am  much  concerned  at  the  information  just  received  in  this 
city  respe6ling  your  friend  Miss  Dayton.  I  mean  the  General's 
Miss  Mary  Dayton.  It  is  confidently  said  and  reported  among 
all  her  acquaintances  here  that  she  met  with  some  accident 
last  Tuesday  at  an  excursion  into  the  country  under  the  hard- 
studying  friend  Faesh's  care,  in  consequence  of  which  she  re- 
turned home  pensive,  dull,  and  absent,  that  is  to  say  in  other 
words  without  life  and  spirits.  I  wonder  what  has  happened 
to  her.^  It  is  certainly  a  great  change  since  last  Sunday,  and 
I  feel  the  more  interested  in  her  Fate  as  she  then  expressed 
SO  much  sympathy  for  my  own.  As  some  deseases  are  extenu- 
ated by  the  compassion  of  our  fellow-beings,  and  I  apprehend 
her  case  is  an  instance  of  the  kind,  I  most  faithfully  promise, 
in  my  turn  to  exert  my  utinost  endeavors,  and  particularly 
my  gift  of  talking,  in  order  to  render  that  compassion  as  uni- 
versal as  possible.  I  have  already  raised  a  sigh  for  her  situation 
in  the  sympathetic  breasts  of  our  Friends  the  Miss  Murray's, 
and  I  mean  to  perform  the  same  pious  duty  among  all  her 
Friends  and  Acquaintances  here,  nay,  I  will  try  to  interest 
the  whole  town  in  her  behalf. 

I  am  sorry  to  be  at  loss  for  immediate  means  of  return- 
ing what  I  owe  to  the  kindness  of  M"^'  E.  B.  Dayton  and,  as  she 
has  already  passed  all  accidents,  I  am  not  a  little  aprehensive 
but  my  gratitude  may  for  a  long  time  remain  confined  within 
my  own  breast,  unless  I  be  lucky  enough  to  find  an  oppor- 
C   310   ] 


HENRY  GAHN 

tunity  of  venting  it,  for  the  benefit  of  the  youngest  branch  of 
the  family.  Yet,  as  that  Branch  has  given  me  but  Httle  provo- 
cation, I  will  let  it  grow  unmolested  for  the  present .  .  .  also, 
out  of  friendship  for  the  Gardener  ! ! ! 

I  see  I  must  close  this  letter  without  being  able  to  tell  you 
to  a  certainty,  what  Play  is  to  be  performed  on  Monday  next, 
yet  I  really  believe  it  more  for  my  own  interest  not  to  anti- 
cipate this  information  by  this  mail,  as  my  leaving  it  for 
a  verbal  communication  to-morrow  afternoon  may  contribute 
towards  my  arrival  being  anxiuusly  looked  out  fore  by  the  young 
Ladies  of  Elizabeth  Town,  and  thus  procure  me  not  only  a 
glorious  reception,  but  also  in  some  measure  atone  for  what- 
ever some  of  them  may  construe  into  offensive  impertinent 
language  in  this  my  humble  letter. 

I  beg  leave  to  present  my  best  respects  to  M'"''  and  Mr. 
Dayton  and  all  your  numerous  relations  of  that  and  other 
names;  and  shall  ever  consider  it  as  a  great  honor  to  re- 
main with  the  highest  esteem  and  consideration. 

Yours  most  obedient 

and  humble  servant 
New  York.  Henry  Gahn. 

Superscription : 

Miss  Chandler,  Elizabeth  Town. 


ANNOTATIONS 

General  Elias  Dayton. 

' '  The  General  "was  Elias  Dayton ,  a  son  of  Jonathan  Dayton ,  of  Eliza- 
beth Town,  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  born  in  July,  1737.  He  served 
from  March,  1759,  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  as  lieutenant  in 
the  New  Jersey  Blues.  He  was  with  his  regiment  at  Quebec  under 
General  Wolfe.  In  1764  he  was  commander  of  the  New  Jersey  con- 
tingent in  the  campaign  against  the  Indians  at  Detroit,  Michigan. 
C   311    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

He  was  made  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  Committee  of  Safety  early 
in  the  Revolution.  On  January  23,  1776,  he  was  commander  of  the 
Elizabeth  Town  men  who  destroyed  the  British  transport  Blue  Moun- 
tain Valley,  then  lying  ofi'  Elizabeth  Port.  On  February  9,  1776,  he 
was  made  colonel  of  the  Third  Battalion  of  New  Jersey  troops,  and 
took  part  in  the  defence  of  FortTiconderoga.  Colonel  Dayton  efficiendy 
aided  General  Sullivan  in  his  expedition  into  central  New  York  against 
the  Indians,  in  1779,  as  one  of  the  commanders  of  the  New  Jersey  con- 
tingent. He  was  commander  of  the  New  Jersey  brigade  on  July  20, 

1780,  and  aided  in  suppressing  the  mutiny  in  the  New  Jersey  line  in 

1781.  He  served  with  distinguished  bravery  throughout,  particularly 
at  Springfield,  Germantown,  and  Brandywine.  On  three  occasions 
horses  were  shot  under  him,  while  leading  his  troops  at  Springfield, 
Germantown,  and  Crosswicks.  On  January  8,  1783,  he  ^\as  made  a 
brigadier-general.  After  the  war  he  served  in  the  legislature  of  New 
Jersey.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  from  New  Jer- 
sej^  in  1787-88.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  New  Jersey  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati,  he  was  made  its  president.  From  1796  to  1805  he  was 
mayor  of  the  borough  of  Elizabeth  Town.  He  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Bayley.  One  daughter,  Hannah,  married  General  Matthew  Og- 
den.  His  son,  Elias  Bayley,  married  Elizabeth  Catherine  Chandler. 
He  died  at  his  native  place  on  October  22,  1807. 

Mary  Dayton. 

"Miss  Dayton"  was  Mary,  General  Dayton's  other  daughter. 

Mr.  Faesh. 

There  is  no  record  available  to  show  who  this  gentleman  was. 

The  Miss  Murrays. 

The  Miss  Murrays  were  the  daughters  of  John  Murray,  a  well- 
known  merchant  of  New  York,  and  president  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  from  1788  to  1806.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  on  Wall  Street,  and  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Society 
for  the  Relief  of  Distressed  Persons. 

Play  performed  October,  1 797. 

For  many  years  the  home  of  the  drama  in  New  York  was  the  small 

C  312  ] 


HENRY  GAHN 

wooden  building  in  John  Street,  near  Broadway,  known  as  the  John 
Street  Theatre.  Here  William  Hallam,  Mrs.  Hallam,  and  their  com- 
pany, the  best-known  actors  of  the  day,  appeared  in  the  plays  of 
Shakespeare, Garrick,  Coleman,  Foote,  Sheridan,  O'Keefe,  and  other 
standard  authors,  as  mcII  as  in  many  written  specially  for  them.  In 
August,  1797,  the  theatre  was  leased  for  a  short  season  to  the  com- 
pany of  Mr.  Soler,  of  the  City  Theatre,  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
The  cast  included  Mr.  Barrett,  Mr.  Williamson,  Mr.  Hughes,  Mr. 
Cronby,  Mr.  Downie,  Mr.  Jones,  Mrs.  Barrett,  Mrs.  Granpeur,  Mrs. 
Jones,  and  Mrs.  Hughes.  The  opening  night  was  August  18,  when 
' '  The  Wonder ' '  and  ' '  The  Spoiled  Child ' '  were  presented.  During 
October  "Jane  Shore"  was  perfoiTned.  This  Mas  apparendy  contin- 
ued until  the  closing  night,  which  was  October  17,  when  a  special 
bill  was  presented:  "The  Tragedy  of  Bunker  Hill,"  song,  Jacob 
Garkey  Rambles,  and  the  farce  of  "The  Sultan."  The  President  of 
the  United  States  was  present,  and  one-quarter  of  the  receipts  were  for 
the  yellow  fever  sufferers.  At  the  same  time  a  distinguished  company 
of  actors  were  playing  at  the  building  in  Greenwich  Street,  near  the 
Battery,  known  as  Rickett's  Circus.  In  it  were  Mr.  Cooper,  Mr. 
Moreton,  Mr.  Warrell,  Mr.  L'Estrange,  Mr.  Byrne,  Mrs.  Byrne, 
Mr.  Harwood,  and  Mr.  Warren.  The  plays  presented  were  Otway's 
"Venice  Preserved,"  "Dermot  and  Kathleen,"  and  "Who's  the 
Duke?"  No  specific  dates  are  given  for  any  play. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elias  Dayton. 

The  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dayton  alluded  to  were  General  Elias  Bayley 
Dayton  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Catherine  Chandler,  whom  he  had 
married  in  1786. 

Mary  Goodin  Chandler. 

"Miss  Chandler  "  was  Mary  Goodin  Chandler,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chandler,  and  afterward  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  John 
Henry  Hobart. 


C   313   3 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Nov:   lo'.*'  —97  Friday  Philad^ 

I  SENT  to  the  Post  office  to  enquire  for  letters  my  dearjohn, 
but  there  are  none  for  you  directed  at  Philad^.  or  at  Prince- 
ton. I  think  it  very  probable  they  are  delay 'd  somewhere  as 
yours  to  me  were,  if  I  receive  any  I  shall  certainly  forward 
them  immediately. 

I  mentiond  to  your  Sister  your  wish  that  M'  Mercer  when 
he  comes  might  be  ofTerd  a  bed,  but  she  said  it  was  impos- 
sible for  her  to  do  it,  as  almost  every  room  in  their  house  is 
crowded  with  goods,  even  the  entry  almost  from  the  Front 
door  to  the  stair  case.  James  &  Robert  Robertson  sleep  to- 
gether in  the  room  over  the  kitchen,  and  J  Briggs  in  the 
same  room,  and  heaps  of  blankets  cover  the  rest  of  the  space, 
she  says  she  does  not  know  where  she  shall  find  room  for 
M'  Smith  when  he  will  be  oblig'd  to  leave  her  room,  so  that  it 
is  out  of  her  power  to  accomodate  him.  As  I  cant  bear  the  idea 
that  there  shoud  not  be  any  attention  paid  to  him  M'  Mercer  I 
have  concluded  to  put  your  room  in  as  decent  order  as  I  can,  and 
give  him  an  invitation  myself  at  all  risks,  perhaps  your  Sister 
P.  may  not  be  more  troublesome  than  common  and  we  may 
make  out  tolerably  well  at  least  we  will  hope  he  will  excuse 
what  may  not  be  so  agreeable  as  might  be  wishd,  if  you  shoud 
approve  of  my  plan,  you  will  let  me  know,  and  communicate 
any  hint  that  you  may  think  will  tend  to  make  things  agree- 
able. If  you  do  not  approve  of  it  you  will  also  let  me  know. 

Just  after  you  left  me  I  receivd  a  letter  from  your  Brother 
of  mondays  date,  he  had  not  then  receivd  yours,  and  was  ac- 
counting for  your  long  stay  by  supposeing  you  had  met  with 
disappointments  and  delays  in  the  stages.  They  were  all  well 

C  314  '] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

he  supposes  in  about  a  week  or  ten  days,  it  may  not  be  im- 
proper to  consult  Col:  Miles  and  then  he  thinks  it  is  probable 
he  may  see  me.  I  hope  their  consultation  and  conclusion  upon 
it,  may  terminate  to  your  brothers  advantage. 

We  are  all  as  well  as  when  you  left  us,  and  pleasd  to  hear 
you  are  safe  and  well. 

My  dear  John  has  the  best  wishes  of  his 

Afte6lionate 
I  enclose  the  key  ^-  Hobart 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H  Hobart,  Princeton 
fav"*.  M'  Hazard 

ANNOTATIONS 

J.  Briggs. 

J.  Briggs  was  a  clerk  for  Mr.  Smith. 

Samuel  Miles. 

Samuel  Miles  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania,  on 
March  11,  1740.  He  enlisted  in  1755  in  Captain  Isaac  Wayne's  com- 
pany, and  was  discharged  in  February,  1756.  He  reenlisted  in  Cap- 
tain Lloyd's  company.  He  was  made  captain-lieutenant  for  the  expe- 
dition under  General  John  Forbes  against  Fort  Duquesne  in  1758.  In 
1760  he  was  commissioned  captain  and  placed  in  command  at  Presque 
Isle  on  Lake  Erie.  He  engaged  in  business  as  a  wine  merchant  in 
Philadelphia  in  1761.  In  1772-73  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, and  in  1774  raised  a  militia  regiment  and  became  its  colonel. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1775-76,  and  a  member  of  the 
enlisted  council.  He  tendered  a  rifle  regiment,  which  he  had  raised, 
to  Congress,  and  fought  with  it  at  the  batde  of  Long  Island,  where  he 
was  taken  prisoner. 

While  in  prison  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania state  forces,  but  on  his  release  in  1778  he  could  not  obtain  from 
the  authorities  his  commission  for  that  rank.  He  then  retired  from 
the  army,  serving  as  public  auditor  and  deputy  quartermaster-gen- 
C   315   ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

eral.  From  1783  to  1787  he  was  judge  of  the  high  court  of  errors  and 
appeals.  He  served  on  the  common  council  of  Philadelphia,  and  in 
1790  was  mayor  of  the  city.  He  died  at  Chesterham,  Pennsyhania, 
on  December  29,  1805. 

Ebenezer  Hazard. 

Ebenezer  Hazard  was  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  brokers,  Haz- 
ard &:  Addom,  with  an  office  at  No.  173  High  Street,  Philadelphia. 
He  lived  at  No.  189  North  Second  Street.  He  was  afterwards  Post- 
master-General of  the  United  States,  and  secretary  of  the  Insurance 
Company  of  North  America. 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Philad"  Friday  17'''  Nov.  97. 

I  THANK  you  my  dear  John  for  the  perusal  of  the  letters 
contalnd  in  the  packet  you  sent  me,  they  have  afforded 
me  a  most  delightful  feast,  and  I  must  ever  regard  those  who 
have  discernment  to  see,  and  goodness  to  appreciate  the  merits 
of  one  so  dear  to  me,  and  who  I  hope  will  ever  deserve  and 
enjoy  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  and  whose  appro- 
bation is  worth  having.  Your  amiable  friend  is  not  arrived 
yet  I  wish  I  may  have  it  in  my  power  to  accommodate  him 
agreeably  when  he  does  coine. 

I  am  glad  you  think  of  writing  to  Do6l^  White  to  inform 
him  you  will  be  willing  to  preach  at  those  churches  if  it  shoud 
be  agreeable,  but  I  hope  my  dear  John  you  do  not  mean  to 
offer  your  services  gratis,  as  there  is  certainly  some  salary 
annex'd,  and  it  coud  not  be  expected  that  you  shoud  not  re- 
ceive it  for  the  time  you  woud  Officiate,  or  that  you  shoud 
relinquish  it  in  favor  of  D'.  Smith  while  you  take  his  place,  be- 
sides, unless  a  way  shoud  be  provided  for  you,  your  going 
back  and  forward  only,  (set  aside  any  other  consideration) 


HANNAH  HOBART 

woud  be  attended  with  an  expence  that  you  cannot  afford  nor 
ought  not  to  be  at,  but  I  do  not  mean  that  when  you  offer  to 
officiate,  you  shoud  then  stipulate  for  a  salary,  but  only  that 
you  do  not  intimate  that  you  shoud  not  desire  it,  because  I 
think  you  ought  to  have  it,  and  I  can't  suppose  any  thing  else 
woud  be  proposed. 

I  enjoy  much  pleasure  my  dear  John  in  the  anticipation  of 
the  happiness  I  shall  experience  in  having  you  with  me  again 
for  a  few  months  at  least  tho  at  the  distance  of  almost  a  year, 
and  shall  be  pleasd  when  it  may  be  consistant  with  your  happi- 
ness to  gratify  D^  Whites  wishes  which  I  beleive  has  always 
been  meant  for  your  good,  indeed  he  has  seemd  from  your 
childhood  to  interest  himself  for  you  with  almost  a  fatherly 
attention  when  an  opportunity  has  presented,  and  I  shall  al- 
ways feel  gratitude  to  him  for  it. 

Your  brother  came  to  town,  monday  evening  and  returned 
home  again  on  tuesday,  he  had  been  at  Col:  Miles's  to  con- 
sult him  about  Dale  and  respe6ling  his  affairs  with  J  P.,  he  is 
to  consider  about  it  and  to  come  to  some  conclusion  in  a  week 
or  two.  Your  brother's  family  were  all  well,  and  he  was  much 
pleasd  with  the  books. 

M'  Smith  and  your  Sister  and  the  children  are  all  well  at 
present,  but  your  Sister  is  so  over  charged  with  the  cares  of 
a  large  family  that  one  can  hardly  get  to  speak  to  her  about 
any  thing,  and  indeed  the  weather  has  been  so  disagreeable 
these  two  days  past  that  I  have  not  been  out. 

I  shall  send  the  handkerchiefs  and  almanack  and  news  paper 
by  the  first  opportunity  I  have,  also  some  wristbands  for  your 
muslin  shirts  which  may  be  wanted  some  time  hence,  there  is 
one  pair  in  the  little  bag  in  your  trunk. 

When  you  write  to  D''  White  I  shoud  like  to  see  it  if  not 
improper. 

C  317  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Your  Sister  P.  has  not  been  quite  so  orderly  as  common  for 
these  few  days  past  but  I  hope  will  soon  be  better. 

I  am  my  dear  John's  Affectionate 

H  HoBART 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Samuel  Miles. 

For  notice  see  page  315. 

Dale  Forge. 

Dale  was  Dale  Forge,  one  of  the  iron  furnaces  belonging  to  the  Potts 
family.  In  a  paper  upon  "Early  Furnaces  and  Forges  of  Berks 
County,"  Mr.  Morton  L.  Montgomery  gives  this  description  of  one 
of  the  iron  furnaces  in  which  Mr.  Robert  Hobart  was  interested : 
"The  Dale  Furnace  was  situated  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Perkio- 
men  Creek,  two  miles  above  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Furnace.  It  was  erected 
about  1791  by  Thomas  Potts,  Joseph  Potts,  Jr.,  and  John  Smith,  Iron 
Masters."  In  the  year  named  they  purchased  from  Leon  ^^^alker  a 
tract  of  150  acres  in  Hereford  Township  (but  since  1839  in  Wash- 
ington), as  a  site  for  a  new  furnace  and,  doubtless,  immediately  pro- 
ceeded to  erect  one  there. 


[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Nov!  24'.^  — 97  Fridav 

I  HAVE  been  particularly  engaged  these  several  days  past 
or  I  shoud  have  sooner  inform d  my  dear  John  that  on 
Sunday  last,  your  Sister  B.  introduced  to  our  acquaintance 
a  little  stranger  a  fine  boy,  who  with  his  Mama  appear  in  a 
way  to  do  well,  and  I  dont  imagine  we  shall  any  of  us  love  him 

C  318  ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

the  less  for  his  being  calld  Henry  Hobart,  the  rain  has  pre- 
vented me  from  going  out  for  some  days  but  I  have  heard 
from  them  every  day.  I  have  receivd  my  dear  John's  letter  of 
the  ig'.*"  inst.  with  the  20  doll',  note  inclosed,  and  very  much 
approve  of  your  accepting  that  small  conpensation  for  your 
services  in  that  one  instance,  you  certainly  woud  have  been 
deficient  in  justice  to  yourself  had  you  declined  receiving  it, 
which  I  am  ready  to  think  has  too  frequently  been  the  case. 
I  have  applied  to  the  workmen  to  do  the  necessary  repairs 
to  the  house  but  they  have  not  yet  done  any  thing  more  than 
look  at  it,  they  must  attend  to  it  soon  if  I  can  make  them. 

I  am  sensible  my  dear  John  of  the  dutiful  and  affedlionate 
attentions  of  each  of  my  children,  and  wish  to  be  thankful  to 
the  giver  of  all  good  for  those  as  well  as  for  the  numberless 
other  comforts  which  we  all  enjoy,  I  am  however  conscious 
that  I  am  often  disposed  to  desire  additional  favors  to  those 
already  posses'd,  tho  not  for  myself. 

I  shall  inclose  a  mem.'''"  of  what  I  have  advanced  to  you 
and  shall  be  glad  on  your  own  account  if  you  find  you  will 
have  enough  to  supply  your  own  necessities  and  to  spare 
any  towards  a  reimbursement  without  inconvenience  to  your- 
self 

I  have  bought  a  piece  of  fine  calico  of  which  I  think  to  have  a 
gown,  by  taking  a  piece  containing  three  gowns  I  have  got  it 
at  4/9  a  yard  while  the  shop  price  is  6/6,  your  Sister  Sally  is 
to  have  a  gown,  if  you  wish  to  have  any  of  it  for  the  pur- 
pose you  mentiond  I  will  send  it  whenever  you  chuse,  and  you 
will  let  me  know  how  much,  6  yards  is  a  very  full  pattern 
for  a  gown  made  in  the  way  I  wear  them,  and  seven  yards 
for  a  fashionable  dress,  if  you  think  you  wont  want  it  I  can 
very  readily  part  with  it. 

I  put  up  your  hand''^^  ( and  I  think  four  pair  of  wristbands 

[  319  ^ 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

which  may  be  wanted  for  your  muslin  shirts )  and  two  news 
papers  and  an  ahnanack  as  you  desired  and  sent  them  to 
Ja^  Robertson  who  undertook  to  send  them  to  you,  I  have 
not  yet  heard  whether  he  has  or  not. 

M"^  Mercer  is  not  yet  come,  I  shoud  like  to  know  whether 
he  will  or  not.  Since  I  last  wrote  to  you  I  have  heard  that  your 
brother  and  family  are  well.  Your  Sister  P.  and  myself  are  as 
well  as  usual. 

My  dear  John's  afTeftionate  remembrance  of  me  is  exceed- 
ingly pleasing  to  me.  May  evry  good  be  your  portion  is  the 
fervent  wish  of  Your  ever  Aff"e6lionate 

H   HoBART 

When  you  went  to  princeton  in  May  last  you  had  at  sundry 
times  had  in  advance  ninety  dollars,  which  was  ten  dollars 
more  than  woud  be  due  in  September  following,  in  the  same 
month  you  sent  me  from  princeton  ten  dollars,  which  set- 
tled the  payment  of  eighty  dollars  due  to  you  in  September 
1797 

1797  Augst  zS'.h  Recciv'd  from  JHH — 10  dollars —    1797 July    l3'.hsentto  JHH — 10  dollars 
Nov.  I9'.h  Receiv'd  from      D<>.  —  20  dollars —  Aug?' lo'.h  paid  toCobbet —    4 


Superscription : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


Sept!    22d9entto  JHH — 20 

30th  paid  to    JHH  — 60 

Nov    —  to      D"    —  30 


ANNOTATION 

Henry  Hobart  Smith. 

Henry  Hobart,  the  third  son  and  fourth  child  of  Robert  and  Rebecca 
[Hobart  (Potts)]  Smith,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  November  19, 
1797,  and  baptized  on  January  17,  1798,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ashbel  Green.  He  was  given  a  good  busi- 
ness education,  and  became  a  note-broker,  with  an  office  on  Third 
[    320    ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

Street,  Philadelphia.  He  retired  from  business  in  1838,  and  in  May 
of  that  year  married  Mrs.  May  I.  Brown.  He  was  attacked  with  a 
spasm  of  the  heart  in  the  street,  in  April,  1843,  was  taken  to  his  home, 
and  died  on  April  26,  in  the  forty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  His  only 
sur\'i\ing  nephew,  William  Alexander  Smith,  recalls  him  as  a  man 
of  an  amiable  disposition  and  very  gentle  manners. 


C   321    2 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Robert  Smith  ] 

Mr.  John  H.  Hob  art  ^^^'^'  ^°''''^^''  '^-  '797 

Dear  Sir 

YOUR  esteemed  favors  of  the  ii'.*^  &  23^  Ins!  I  re- 
ceived, &  observe  what  you  say  with  respe6l  to  Johns 
studying  with  you  in  a  private  way  out  of  the  College,  untill 
he  has  acquired  that  proficiency  to  enable  him  to  enter  the 
freshman  class.  I  approve  of  the  plan,  &  wish  you  to  place 
him  with  the  approbation  of  Dr  Smith  with  Mrs  Knox  who 
I  make  no  doubt  from  his  good  chara61:er  will  pay  every  ne- 
cessary attention  to  him,  I  will  thank  you  to  recommend  him 
to  her  particular  care,  as  for  the  additional  expense  it  is  a  mat- 
ter of  very  little  consequence,  you  will  please  agree  with  her 
not  only  to  board,  but  to  wash  &  mend  his  cloaths  &  pay 
her  weekly  or  otherwise  as  may  be  most  agreeable,  I  expeft 
he  will  want  nothing  new  for  some  time  as  he  is  pretty  well 
provided  with  every  necessary,  I  would  wish  him  not  to  want 
for  any  thing  that  may  contribute  to  his  comfort,  but  dont 
let  him  run  in  debt,  dont  let  him  be  Idle,  keep  him  if  possible 
to  his  Studies  he  has  triffled  away  too  much  precious  time 
allready  you  know  my  intention  is  to  educate  for  an  a6live 
Marcantile  Life,  I  would  wish  him  to  pursue  the  Study  of  the 
French  Language  if  there  is  a  good  master  at  Princeton,  pro- 
vided it  will  not  interfer  too  much  with  his  Study  of  the  Latin, 
I  shall  commit  him  to  your  care  in  full  confidence,  that  you 
will  pay  every  necessary  attention  to  him,  treat  him  as  a 
Brother,  &  on  his  part  I  hope  he  will  not  be  ungrateful. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  infomi  you  that  on  Sunday  last  your 
Sister  presented  me  with  a  Son  they  are  both  well  indeed 
I  may  say  she  is  rather  better  than  she  usually  is  on  these 

C  322  ] 


ROBERT  SMITH 

occasions,  we  purpose  to  honour  him  with  your  name,  I  hope 
he  will  grow  up  &  be  a  comfort  to  us  all. 

Congress  have  at  last  made  a  House.  I  take  it  for  granted 
you  have  seen  our  worthy  Presidents  speech  it  is  a  Foedral 
one,  our  Commiss"^."  are  arrived  at  Paris,  there  is  no  acco'.'  yet 
how  they  were  received,  I  hope  the  French  will  be  reason- 
able &  not  add  to  their  Enemys,  your  mamma  &  our  Children 

are  well  .  rr  n-  ^ 

1  am  aiiectionately  yours 

.  .  Robert  Smith 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  at  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

John  Rhea  Clarendon  Smith. 

John  Rhea  Clarendon,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Ann  (Rhea)  Smith,  was 
born  at  the  family  home  in  Front  Street,  Philadelphia,  on  March  19, 
1783,  and  was  baptized  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  James  Sproat  on  May  4,  1783.  After  a  course  in  good  schools 
in  his  native  city,  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and 
placed  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Hobart.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  in  1801.  He  became  a  clerk  in  his  father's  count- 
ing-house, and  was  active  in  the  business  for  some  years.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Bell,  of  a  well-known  Philadelphia  family.  Being  fond 
of  military  exercise,  he  joined  a  troop  of  horse  in  the  state  militia,  and 
rose  to  be  captain.  He  retired  early  in  life  from  mercantile  pursuits, 
spending  his  time  in  study  and  philanthropy.  His  death  occurred 
in  1871.  His  only  surviving  near  relative,  William  Alexander  Smith, 
who  in  May,  1911,  was  in  his  ninety-first  year,  remembers  him  as 
a  man  of  great  gentleness  and  of  very  pleasant  manners. 

Mrs.  Knox. 

Mrs.  Knox  kept  a  boarding-house  for  the  students.  Those  who  ob- 
tained board  there  esteemed  themselves  very  fortunate,  for  she  was 
a  kind  and  helpful  friend  to  the  young  men.  She  lived  in  a  pleasant 
part  of  the  town,  near  the  college.  She  kept  the  house  until  about  1825. 
C   323   ^ 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Henry  Hobart  Smith. 

The  son  w  hose  birth  is  announced  was  Henry  Hobart  Smith,  for  no- 
tice of  whom  see  page  320. 

The  United  States  Commission  at  Paris. 

The  confirmation  of  the  treaty  with  England,  negotiated  by  John  Jay 
in  1794,  by  the  Senate  on  June  24,  1795,  aroused  very  strong  op- 
position from  many  quarters.  Even  the  Federalists  were  much  dis- 
pleased with  some  of  the  provisions,  and  only  when  the  most  objec- 
tionable article  was  stricken  out  could  the  necessary  two-thirds  \ote 
be  secured.  When  the  treaty  \\as  made  fully  public,  the  large  bodvof 
Americans  who  were  sympathizers  with  France  felt  that  an  insult  had 
been  offered  to  a  nation  friendly  and  necessary  to  the  well-being  of 
the  United  States.  The  French  Minister  kept  the  Directory  informed 
of  the  progress  of  events  as  well  as  Prince  Talleyrand,  who  w  as  then 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs.  He  \\  ith  others  thought  that  the  direct 
result  of  high-handed  dealings  by  the  French  Republic  ^\•ould  result 
in  an  abrogation  of  the  treaty.  Their  representati\  es  at  Philadelphia 
supported  them,  and  thought  that  if  the  Republicans  should  be  suc- 
cessful in  the  election  of  1796,  French  supremacy  could  be  main- 
tained. In  pursuance  of  their  policy,  James  Monroe,  the  Minister  to 
France,  was  ignored  and  slighted.  Our  commerce  suffered  by  an  order 
to  seize  American  ships  like  those  of  other  neutral  nations,  and  the 
efforts  of  Mr.  Monroe  to  redress  our  wrongs  were  met  Avith  indiffer- 
ence and  assertions  that  the  English  treaty  had  abrogated  treaties 
made  with  France  in  1778. 

Finally,  so  acute  had  gro\\n  the  situation  that  \\'ashington  sent 
Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney  of  South  Carolina  as  a  special  ambas- 
sador to  France.  He  arrived  in  Paris  in  December,  1796.  He  was 
recei%ed  most  graciously  by  Mr.  Monroe,  who  put  him  into  com- 
munication with  the  French  foreign  office.  Mr.  Pinckney's  creden- 
tials were  taken,  with  the  statement  that  they  would  be  submitted  to 
the  Directory.  After  the  w  ithdrawal  by  the  foreign  office  of  all  powers 
from  the  French  Ministers  to  the  United  States,  Mr.  Monroe  had 
become  practically  a  pri\ate  citizen.  But  it  was  through  him  that  the 
reply  was  transmitted  tliat  France  would  not  receive  another  American 
Minister  undl  her  grievances  were  redressed.  Mr.  Pinckney  was  thus 
left  without  protection  in  a  nation  distincdy  averse  to  the  presence  of 


ROBERT  SMITH 

Americans  at  that  time.  A  law  passed  in  the  frenzied  dajs  of  the  Re- 
public forbade  foreigners  to  remain  in  the  country  without  written  per- 
mission. He  applied  for  such  a  document,  asking  to  remain  until  he 
could  hear  from  his  government.  An  ambiguous  answer  was  returned. 
At  length  he  ^\  as  informed  on  February  3,  1797,  after  a  preA'ious  in- 
formal notice,  that  he A\as  liable  to  arrest  by  his  residence  in  the  coun- 
try for  two  months  without  permission.  He  obtained  his  passports 
and  tlien  left.  When,  a  short  time  after,  Mr.  Monroe  departed  for 
America,  he  was  bidden  farewell  with  most  extravagant  marks  of 
enthusiasm,  as  if  to  show  contempt  for  the  Federalists,  and  particu- 
larly the  special  envoy. 

Mr.  Pinckney's  report  of  his  failure  aroused  much  indignation  in 
every  quarter.  Extreme  Federalists  desired  immediate  war  to  be  pro- 
claimed ;  others  wished  for  further  negotiations.  The  Republicans  were 
confident  that  the  relations  with  France  were  the  result  of  Federal 
mismanagement.  Finally  it  was  agreed  that  three  envoys  should  be 
sent,  with  the  hope  that  more  respect  would  be  shown  to  them.  In 
May,  1797,  Congress  was  called  in  extra  session  by  the  new  Presi- 
dent, John  Adams.  After  much  debate,  Mr.  Pinckney,  John  Marshall 
of  Virginia,  and  Mr.  Dana  of  Massachusetts  were  chosen.  Mr.  Dana 
declining,  Elbridge  Gerry,  an  even  more  pronounced  Republican,  ^yas 
chosen.  The  envoys  sailed  early  in  the  fall,  and  arrived  in  Paris  in 
October,  1797.  Talleyrand  was  indifferent  to  them,  and  was  more 
desirous  of  standing  well  with  the  rising  young  General  Bonaparte 
than  of  pleasing  a  nation  for  whom  he  had  no  regard,  and  which  had 
not  been  to  him,  when  he  visited  it,  a  bed  of  roses.  There  were  many 
delays  in  regard  to  a  formal  reception  by  Talleyrand,  who  sent  agents 
high  in  rank  to  sound  the  ambassadors  as  to  their  desires  and  to  in- 
sinuate to  them  gently  the  necessity  of  placing  a  large  sum  of  money 
in  the  hands  of  the  Minister.  Finally,  the  question  was  put  plainly, 
when  Mr.  Pinckney  said  in  his  most  dignified  manner:  "Millions 
for  defence,  but  not  one  cent  for  tribute."  At  length  only  Mr.  Gerry 
was  received,  and  the  other  envoys  were  ignored.  Their  report,  with 
the  letters  and  conversations  of  those  whom  they  called  X-Y-Z,  made 
every  American  furious,  and  immediate  preparations  for  war  were 
made.  See  also  note  on  Mr.  Pinckney,  page  265. 


C   325  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 
[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Nov'.  30'.''  —  97  Thursday  evs 

I  HAVE  received  my  clear  John's  letter  and  the  packet 
by  M''  Agnew  and  am  glad  to  hear  by  him  that  you  are 
well,  I  have  not  time  to  write  much  now,  nor  nothing  very 
material  to  communicate,  but  will  take  care  to  observe  your 
request  with  regard  to  the  letters  &c.  when  I  see  M'  Mercer. 
I  will  send  the  calico  when  I  know  of  a  safe  opportunity.  We 
are  all  as  well  as  when  I  wrote  you  last,  and  I  am  as  much 
as  ever  my  dear  John's  Affectionate 

H  HoBART 

I  must  take  time  to  tell  you  I  have  this  moment  receivd  a 
few  lines  from  your  brother,  he  says  they  are  all  well,  and 
nothing  new  relating  to  business  since  he  returned  home,  he 
experts  to  see  me  about  the  third  week  in  next  month. 

Poor  M'^^  White  is  more  unwell  than  when  you  were  here, 
it  is  expe6led  she  will  not  live  thro'  the  winter. 


ANNOTATIONS 

Mr.  Agnew. 

Mr.  Agnew  is  either  James,  who  was  graduated  from  the  College 
of  New  Jersey  in  1795  ;  or  Martin,  who  was  graduated  from  the  same 
college  in  1797  ;  or  William,  also  in  the  same  class  of  1797. 

Mrs.  William  White. 

Mrs.  White  was  the  wife  of  Bishop  White.  She  died  December  13, 

1797.  See  page  344. 


[   326  ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

[  From  David  English  ] 

George  Town  Dec',   i  5  97 

Dear  Sir. 

YOU  quite  gave  us  the  go  fry,  on  your  return  from  Virgi?. 
M"^  Green  waited  some  days  in  expe6lation  of  your 
being  fellow  travellers.  He  has  been  sometime  in  N  Jersey 
&  has  perhaps  paid  you  in  the  same  way  as  he  does  not  men- 
tion in  his  letters  any  thing  of  you.  I  expe6l  him  daily.  I  wish 
to  have  a  sketch  of  your  visit  in  Virgi^  &  the  time  &  man- 
ner of  your  return.  I  am  also  anxious  to  hear  something  of  the 
State  of  the  College  &  how  you  like  your  Colleague.  Col.  Mer- 
cer mention  that  he  saw  you  in  Virg=*  C^o/-«3  Friday  night. 
Judge  Paterson  staid  in  Geo  Town  on  his  return  home  from 
Richmond.  I  gave  him  50  Dollars  for  M""  Mattison  being  some 
money  due  him  by  a  man  in  Maryland.  I  must  beg  the  favour 
of  you  to  call  on  M""  Mattison  as  soon  as  convenient  after  you 
get  this  for  M''  Green  writes  to  me  that  he  has  paid  the  money 
&  had  an  order  to  receive  it  of  me.  I  write  to  M""  Mattison  to 
pay  you  the  50  Dol.  which  you  will  please  to  retain  till  I  write 
to  you,  we  may  wish  it  paid  in  Phi*. 

M""'  English  is  in  pretty  good  health  at  present.  Remember 
us  to  our  friends  at  Mapletown  when  you  see  any  of  them. 
Have  you  heard  any  thing  more  about  our  friend  Caldwell  let 
me  know. 

M"".  Jefferson  came  in  his  carriage  ( Sulkey )  as  far  as  this 
&  entered  the  stage  here,  he  went  in  company  with  Judge 
Patterson  &  Bishop  Coke  (  Methodist)  with  them  I  passed  an 
hour.  The  latter  was  going  for  N  York  to  return  in  the  Br. 
Packet  to  England,  he  is  a  Welchman,  was  taken  by  our  good 


C  327  ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

friends  ( the  Fr )  &  stripped  ( as  usual )  put  on  board  a  N  Eng- 
land vessel  &  landed  at  Norfolk. 

With  regard  &  esteem 

I  am  your  friend 

D  English 

Remember  me  affedtionately  to  M"^  Agnew  &  M"^  Minto 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  H.  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Richard  M.  Green. 
For  notice  see  page  203. 

Edmund  Elmendorf. 

Edmund  Elmendorf,  a  graduate  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  of  the 
class  of  1794,  was  made  tutor  in  1797  in  the  place  of  Robert  Mar- 
shall Forsyth,  and  is  the  colleague  referred  to  by  Mr.  English.  He 
was  tutor  there  for  several  months  in  1797-98.  He  studied  law,  and 
was  admitted  an  attorney  at  the  September  term  of  1799  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  New  Jersey,  and  as  a  counsellor  at  the  May  term  of 
1800.  Settling  in  New  York  City,  he  acquired  a  good  practice  and 
served  as  clerk  in  chancery  for  many  years.  Mr.  Elmendorf  died  in 
New  York  City  in  1856. 

Colonel  Mercer. 

Colonel  Mercer  was  the  father  of  Charles  Fenton  Mercer,  a  particular 

friend  of  Mr.  Hobart. 

William  Paterson. 

William  Paterson  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 
1763.  He  was  a  delegate  from  New  Jersej-  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  and  United  States  Constitutional 
Conventions,  United  States  Senator  from  Ne^^'  Jersey,  attornej-gen- 
C   328   ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

eral  and  governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  judge  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court.  He  died  in  1806. 

Aaron  Mattison. 

Aaron  Mattison  was  a  native  of  Princeton,  and  active  in  civic  affairs. 
His  name  stands  first  on  the  roll  of  members  of  the  Princeton  Fire 
Company  organized  on  February  11,  1788,  of  which  Captain  Litde 
was  director.  It  is  said  that  "the  best  men  formed  the  company  and 
attended  the  meetings." 

Mrs.  David  English. 

David  English  married,  for  his  first  wife,  Lydia  Scudder,  a  daughter 
of  Colonel  Nathaniel  Scudder  of  the  First  New  Jersey  Regiment  in 
the  Revolutionary  War. 

Joseph  Cdldzvell. 
For  notice  see  page  99, 

Thomas  Jefferson. 
For  notice  see  page  229. 

Thomas  Coke. 

Thomas  Coke  was  bom  at  Brecon,  South  Wales,  in  1747,  was  grad- 
uated from  the  University  of  Oxford  in  1768,  and  received  from 
it  the  degree  of  doctor  of  civil  law  in  1775.  He  served  as  curate  in 
Somersetshire,  and  in  1776  came  under  the  influence  of  John  Wes- 
ley. Open-air  services  and  cottage  meetings  held  by  him  caused  his 
dismissal  b\-  the  rector  of  the  parish.  He  then  fully  affiliated  him- 
self with  Mr.  Wesley's  connection  and  was  assigned  to  the  London 
circuit.  In  1782  he  was  made  the  first  president  of  the  Irish  Con- 
ference. 

On  September  2,  1784,  in  the  room  of  the  Rev.  John  Wesley,  at 
Bristol,  England,  he  was  solemnlv  set  apart  by  the  laying  on  of  hands 
by  Mr.  Wesley  as  "Superintendent "  of  the  Methodists  in  the  United 
States,  and  soon  after  sailed  for  America.  He  met  the  Rev.  Francis 
Asbury  at  the  General  Conference  of  the  American  Methodists  in  Bal- 
timore. Dr.  Coke,  by  the  solemn  imposition  of  his  hands,  acting 
under  authority  from  Mr.  Wesley,  set  Francis  Asbury  apart  as  joint 
C   329   H 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

superintendent  with  him  of  the  Methodists  in  America.  This  was  the 
first  formal  separation  by  the  Methodists  from  the  Chmx-h  of  Eng- 
huid,  of  which  they  had  professed  themselves  still  to  be  members. 

Dr.  Coke  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  endurance,  powerful  in  ^  oice 
and  manner,  a  preacher  of  \'ery  real  force,  and  in  every  particular  fitted 
for  the  work  he  had  to  do  as  a  general  missionary  and  superintendent. 
After  nearly  seven  years  of  incessant  labour  in  America  and  England, 
he  sent  to  Bishop  White  of  Pennsylvania  a  letter  dated  Richmond, 
April  24,  1791,  in  which  he  rehearsed  his  attachments  to  the  Church 
of  England,  his  ordination  in  it,  his  connection  with  Mr.  Wesley, 
his  commission  as  superintendent,  and  his  efforts  for  a  separation  be- 
tween the  Methodists  and  the  Church.  He  dwelt  upon  the  evils  of  such 
a  course,  and  proposed  that  the  matter  of  a  union  between  the  Meth- 
odists and  the  Churchmen  in  America  should  be  the  subject  of  a 
conference  between  the  Bishop,  Dr.  Coke,  and  his  friend  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Magaw,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Philadelphia.  His  plan  was  that 
the  present  Methodist  "presbvters  "  should  be  ordained  bv  Bishops 
of  the  American  Church.  He  discussed  the  difficulties  in  the  wav  and 
left  details  for  the  proposed  interview.  He  apologized  for  a\ailing  him- 
self of  the  offer  of  Dr.  White  and  Dr.  Magaw  to  preach  in  one  of 
the  churches  under  their  care,  without  informing  them  of  his  status 
among  the  Methodists. 

In  the  interval  between  the  receipt  of  the  letter,  Dr.  White's  reply, 
and  Mr.  Coke's  visit  to  Philadelphia,  the  news  of  the  death  of  the  Rev. 
John  Wesley  reached  America.  This  caused  the  doctor  to  hurry  from 
Baltimore  to  Philadelphia  to  sail  for  England.  Two  interviews  were 
held  with  Bishop  White,  one  in  the  presence  of  Dr.  Magaw,  the  other 
with  the  Bishop.  \\^hile  there  was  a  seemingly  frank  discussion  bv 
Dr.  Coke  of  the  possibility  of  reunion,  and  of  the  consecration  of 
Mr.  Asbury  and  himself  as  bishops,  there  was  less  desire  for  anvaction, 
as  the  vacancy  in  the  headship  of  the  Methodist  societies  made  it  pos- 
sible that  Dr.  Coke  might  be  chosen  to  fill  that  position.  Bishop  White 
writes  in  his  "  Memoirs  "  with  great  caution,  but  leaves  the  impres- 
sion that  the  plan  was  intended  to  add  to  the  glory  and  reputation  of 
Dr.  Coke  and  to  counteract  the  very  great  inffuence  of  Dr.  Asbury. 
On  May  14,  1791,  Dr.  Coke  wrote  to  Bishop  Seaburv  of  Connecti- 
cut a  letter  similar  to  that  to  Bishop  White,  but  with  some  significant 
changes.  One  of  them  is  the  proposal  for  the  consecration  of  Dr.  Asbury 
C   330  J 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

and  himself  as  bishops.  The  whole  correspondence  was  to  be  kept 
entirely  secret.  Bishop  Seabury  appears  to  have  made  no  replv.  Dr. 
Coke  went  to  England,  failed  to  be  made  head  of  the  "connection," 
and  continued  his  missionary  \\ork  principally  in  India  and  the  islands 
of  the  Indian  Ocean,  although  still  visiting  the  United  States. 

The  matter  of  a  reunion  was  proposed  to  his  brother  Bishop  bv  Bishop 
Madison  at  the  General  Convention  of  1792.  A  resolution  on  the  sub- 
ject was  sent  to  the  House  of  Deputies  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  but 
did  not  meet  approval. 

Dr.  Coke  ended  his  arduous  life  on  May  3,  1814,  as  he  was  mak- 
ing a  voyage  to  Cejlon.  He  was  a  great  traveller,  having  crossed  the 
Atlantic  eighteen  times,  a  most  unusual  record  for  those  days. 

The  incident  referred  to  in  the  letter  of  Mr.  English  is  thus  stated  in 
Stevenson's  "  Methodist  Worthies,"  page  152  :  "In  August  [l796] 
he  sailed  once  more  for  x\merica  and  when  there  manifested  a  desire 
to  settle  in  that  country.  In  that  purpose  he  was  strongly  opposed  by 
the  English  Conference  after  his  return,  but  his  restless  spirit  started 
him  again  for  America  after  the  conference  of  1797.  The  ship  was 
seized  by  a  French  privateer  and  the  Doctor  lost  his  clothes,  but  was 
able  to  escape  \\  ith  his  books  and  papers,  the  French  captain  finding 
a  Methodist  preacher,  even  a  bishop,  a  very  unsuitable  prize." 

Daniel  Ag?2ew. 

See  sketch  which  precedes  letter  of  April  23,  1798,  in  Volume  II. 

Mrs.  Walter  Minto. 

Dr.  Minto  married  Marv  Skelton  in  Princeton.  They  lived  in  an  old 
j-ellow  house  next  to  that  of  Professor  Stephen  Alexander.  Mrs.  Minto 
survived  her  husband  twenty-eight  years,  and  died  in  1824.  They 
left  no  children. 
For  sketch  of  Dr.  Minto  see  page  205. 


[  331 :] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  David  English  ] 

George  Town  Dec'.   i6  1797 

Dear  Sir. 

ON  Friday  evening  M"^  Green  returned  &  we  were  agree- 
ably entertained  with  the  accounts  he  was  able  to  give 
us  of  the  State  of  affairs  in  N  Jersey.  I  have  also  learnt  that 
your  stay  was  protra6led  so  long  in  Virginia  that  we  were 
deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  from  you. 

I  wrote  sometime  last  week  desiring  you  to  call  on  M""  Mat- 
tison  to  receive  50  Dollars  from  him  &  retain  it  for  us.  I  now 
desire  the  favour  of  a  remittance  of  it.  If  you  can  procure  a 
single  note  of  that  amount  I  should  prefer  it  but  do  not  put 
yourself  to  any  trouble  to  get  it  exchanged.  You  will  confer 
an  additional  obligation  by  calling  on  M""  Stephen  Morford  & 
enquiring  whether  David  Olden  has  ever  paid  him  the  balance 
on  a  Note  I  deposited  in  his  hands. 

M''  Green  staid  in  Phi^  but  one  day,  he  attended  the  de- 
bates but  observed  there  appeared  a  great  change  in  the 
Speakers  since  the  winter  before  last,  he  knew  very  few  of 
them.  Dayton  I  suppose  has  taken  his  side  this  Session. 

D"^  Perkins  was  here  on  his  way  to  the  Southward  &  depos- 
ited with  us  some  of  his  Traftors  for  sale.  I  think  I  mentioned 
to  you  that  J.  D.  Westcott  had  commenced  a  daily  paper  in 
Alexandria  in  partnership  with  Thomas  a  Bookseller,  it  is 
likely  to  succeed  pretty  well. 

The  only  Son  of  the  late  Col.  Loyd  of  the  Eastern  Shore 
was  married  not  long  since  to  a  Miss  Murray  of  Annapolis, 
he  gave  M"^  Higgenbothan  50  Guineas,  it  is  said,  for  perform- 
ing the  Marriage  ceremony. 

Bishop  Clagget  has  been  with  the  Assembly  to  get  some 

alterations  respe6\ing  the  affairs  of  the  Church.  He  wishes  the 

I  332   ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

Parson  of  each  parish  to  be  made  the  President  of  the  Ves- 
try. At  the  last  convention  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  of  Mary* 
they  passed  a  resolve  that  each  clergyman  should  remain  in 
the  Parish  where  he  settles  as  long  as  he  behaves  well,  they 
now  change  too  frequently  or  have  heretofore. 

It  would  be  well  for  you  to  advise  Everet  to  enter  upon  some 
employ  without  delay.  It  would  be  better  to  engage  to  teach 
even  an  English  School  than  to  remain  at  Princeton  under  the 
pretence  of  reading  for  improvement,  tell  him  M"^  Moore  has 
arrived  here  from  London.  With  esteem  &  regard  I  am 

Your  friend 

D  English 

I  understand  M""  Finley  is  said  to  be  about  to  take  a  partner 
but  I  can  scarcely  credit  the  report.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  M"^ 
Perine  should  be  in  such  haste  to  get  clear  of  the  honor  you 
bestowed  upon  him  at  Commencement  i.e.  of  ceasing  to  be 
a  Bachelor. 

Superscription  : 

M^JoHN  H.  HoBART,  Pruiceton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Hobart's  Visit  to  Virginia. 

In  the  fall  of  1797,  Mr.  Hobart  visited  his  college  friend,  Charles 
Fenton  Mercer,  at  his  home  in  Virginia.  His  relative  and  biogra- 
pher. Dr.  Berrian,  says  :  "The  kind  and  gratifying  attentions  which 
he  received  from  the  family  of  his  friend,  the  frankness,  warmth,  and 
hospitality  of  the  southern  people  in  general,  and  the  union  of  edu- 
cadon,  refinement,  and  rank,  with  the  simplicity  of  rural  life,  made  so 
pleasing  an  impression  on  his  mind,  that  the  state  of  society  seemed  to 
him  more  like  those  visions  of  domestic  bliss  which  the  imagination 
sometimes  forms  than  a  reality  which  he  himself  should  ever  have 
witnessed  and  enjoyed.  The  recollection  of  it  was  constandy  before 
[   333   ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

him  and  he  Avas  daily  and  hourly  confirmed  in  the  plan  which  had 
occurred  to  him  of  settling  in  \'irginia.  This  scheme,  however,  was 
by  no  means  agreeable  to  his  friends  at  home." 

Three  letters  concerning  this  visit  from  Mr.  Hobart  are  preserved. 
One  to  his  mother,  dated  "  Frederick sburgh,  October  26;"  two  to 
Mr.  Mercer,  dated  "Philadelphia,  November  5,  1797,"  "Prince- 
ton, November  21st,  1797." 

Stephen  Morford. 

Stephen  Morford  was  of  English  descent.  His  father  married  in  New 
Jersey,  Susan,  a  daughter  of  Zebulon  Barton.  His  home  A\as  at  Cran- 
berry, New  Jersey,  until  his  marriage  with  Mary  Hamilton  of  Phila- 
delphia. He  then,  with  his  brother  Nathaniel,  removed  to  Prince- 
ton, and  lived  on  a  farm.  He  served  first  as  private  in  the  Revolution, 
and  was  advanced  to  be  captain.  In  1797  he  was  appointed  major  of 
the  First  Battalion,  Second  Regiment.  He  li\ed  in  the  house  known 
as  the  old  post  office,  corner  of  Nassau  and  Witherspoon  Streets.  For 
nearly  thirty  years  he  was  postmaster  of  Princeton,  and  was  succeeded 
in  1824  by  his  daughter,  who  was  known  as  "Miss  Fanny."  He 
died  on  April  22,  1833,  in  the  seyent3--seventh  year  of  his  age.  One 
of  his  grandsons  was  William  Henry  Hurlbert,  the  brilliant  journalist 
and  editorial  writer  on  the  New  York  "World."  Among  the  college 
receipts  of  Mr.  Hobart  there  are  receipts  from  Stephen  Morford  for 
papers  and  postage. 

David  Olden. 

David  Olden  was  an  inhabitant  of  Princeton.  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  man  of  affairs.  When  the  Assembly  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey 
met  in  Princeton  in  1776,  he  was  appointed  doorkeeper.  At  the  meet- 
ing held  on  July  27,  1785,  Mr.  Olden  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee to  present  the  "association,"  which  had  been  adopted  against 
trade  and  intercourse  with  the  enemy,  to  the  inhabitants  for  signature. 
He  was  an  original  member  of  the  Princeton  Fire  Company. 

Elisha  Perkins. 

For  sketch  see  page  201. 


C    334   ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

Westcott  &  Thomas. 

In  the  spring  of  1797,  John  V.  Thomas,  who  for  some  time  had  been 
a  bookseller  and  stationer  in  Alexandria,  commenced  the  publication 
of  a  daily  paper  named  "  The  Alexandria  Advertiser."  In  the  cap- 
tion on  the  first  page,  in  the  centre,  was  a  woodcut  of  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty,  and  above  her  the  sub-title  "Daily."  Below  was  this  motto: 
"  It  is  not  birth,  magnificence,  nor  power,  But  virtue  only  makes  the 
difierence  'twixt  us." 

Each  issue  consisted  of  four  pages,  with  four  columns  to  each  page. 
The  subscription  price  was  five  dollars  a  year.  At  the  bottom  of  the 
fourth  page  is  this  imprint :  ' '  Printed  daily  by  Thomas  and  \\  estcott, 
Royal  Street,  between  the  Post  Office  and  Coflee  House,  Alexandria." 

The  advertisement  of  Mr.  Thomas  as  bookseller  was  on  the  first 
page.  It  was  changed  from  time  to  time,  and  mentioned  "books  just 
imported;"  he  also  sold  music  and  music  supplies.  On  December 
20,  1797,  there  is  this  item:  "Also  D'  Perkins  Metalic  Points  with 
transfers." 

Neither  the  paper  nor  its  publishers  are  mentioned  in  Isaiah  Thomas's 
"Historv  of  Printing."  In  the  "Washington  Gazette,"  beginning 
with  the  issue  ' '  from  Saturday  December  3 1  to  Wednesday  January 
4,  1797,"  is  this  advertisement :  "John  V.  Thomas  Between  Wise's 
and  McKnight's  Tavern  Alexandria  Has  constantly  for  sale  a  well 
chosen  collection  of  Books  and  an  Assortment  of  the  best  London 
stationarv.  Likewise  Violins,  Flutes,  best  Roman  Violin  Strings  and 
Bridges  and  Guitar  Strings.  Bookbinding  in  all  its  branches.  Mer- 
chants Account  Books  made  to  any  patterns  cheaper  than  they  can 
be  imported." 

The  paper  was  continued  with  success  for  some  years.  The  file  in 
the  Library  of  Congress,  Washington,  commences  with  volume  i, 
No.  96,  Monday,  July  31,  1797. 

Jonathan  Daytofi. 

Jonathan  Dayton  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  Nev>-  Jersey  in 
1776.  He  was  successively  representative  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  United  States 
Senator  from  New  Jersey.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Convention  in  1787.  He  died  in  1824. 

C   335   J 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Edivard  Lloyd. 

Colonel  Edward  Lloyd  was  a  member  of  an  old  and  distinguished 
Maryland  family,  w  hich  had  long  been  settled  in  Talbot  Countv.  His 
estates  were  extensive  and  comprised  more  than  twelve  thousand 
acres.  His  son,  known  as  the  fifth  Edw  ard,  was  married  to  Miss  Sally 
Scott,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  and  Sarah  (Maynadier)  Murray,  on 
November  30,  1797.  The  fifth  Edward  studied  law,  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Maryland  legislature  in  1780,  and  held  his  seat  until  1805. 
He  served  in  Congress  from  December  1,  1806,  to  March  3,  1809. 
He  was  governor  of  Maryland  from  1809  to  1811;  state  senator  in 
1811 ;  presidential  elector  in  1813  ;  United  States  Senator  from  1819 
to  1826,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  again  state  senator  and  president 
of  the  Maryland  Senate  from  1826  to  1831.  He  died  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  on  June  2,  1834. 

Ralph  Higginhotham. 

Ralph  Higginbotham  was  born  in  Ireland,  where  he  was  ordained  in 
1774.  In  1784  he  was  made  rector  of  St.  Ann's  Church,  Annapolis, 
Maryland.  He  was  also,  previous  to  his  election  as  rector,  master  of 
King  William  School,  which  was  developed  into  St.  John's  College, 
of  which  he  became  vice-president.  In  1806  he  resigned  his  parish 
to  devote  his  time  to  the  college.  He  died  in  1813. 

Bishop  Claggett  and  the  Maryland  Assembly. 
The  legislature  of  Maryland  in  1779  passed  a  vestry  act  by  which  all 
the  property  and  temporal  concerns  of  the  various  parishes  were  vested 
in  select  %estries.  There  were  some  proxisions  in  this  law  which  re- 
stricted the  action  of  the  Churchmen  \\ho  formed  the  first  Conven- 
tion, and  when  the  Church  was  fully  organized  under  its  Bishop,  it 
was  determined  to  apply  for  a  modification  of  it.  By  the  Convention 
of  the  diocese  in  1797  a  committee  was  appointed  to  present  a  rex  ised 
act  to  the  legislature  and  urge  its  passage.  Bishop  Claggett  and  some 
members  attended  at  Annapolis  for  the  purpose. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  in  the  second  volume  of  his  "Ecclesiastical 
Contributions,"  page  326,  says: 

"The  committee  to  whom  had  been  entrusted  the  application  to  the 
legislature  touching  the  new  vestry  act,  had  not  been  unmindful  of 

C    336   3 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

their  duty,  but  upon  the  assembling  of  the  convention  in  May  1798, 
they  were  obliged  to  report  that  the  assembly  had  postponed  the  con- 
sideration of  the  measure.  But  the  members  of  the  Church  were  un- 
willing to  abandon  the  hope  of  ultimate  success,  and  therefore  by  an 
unanimous  vote  of  the  convention,  it  was  resolved  to  address  a  memo- 
rial to  the  legislature,  that  was  to  convene  in  the  latter  part  of  1798. 
This  measure  was  the  more  called  for,  because  the  members  of  the 
Church  had  entertained  different  opinions  with  respect  to  particular 
clauses  in  the  bill  that  had  been  postponed,  and  thus  the  legislature 
was  embarrassed,  by  finding  that  even  if  the  bill  passed,  it  would  not 
satisfy  all  the  Churchmen  of  Maryland.  In  this  memorial,  the  conven- 
tion stated  their  case  as  follows :  '  under  their  present  vestry  act,  de- 
fective and  imperfect  as  it  must  be  acknowledged  to  be,  they  beheld 
with  grief  that  Church  which  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  had  founded, 
and  which  the  sufferings  and  virtues  of  many  great  and  good  men  had 
cemented,  crumbling  to  pieces.  They  had  no  power  to  build  or  repair 
churches,  to  purchase  ground  for  church-yards,  nor  to  acquire  or  dis- 
pose of  property  of  any  kind.  And  it  must  be  obvious,  that  unless 
the  civil  authority  dispensed  some  power  of  this  kind,  no  society 
whatever  can  long  exist,  or  can  attain  the  object  of  their  association. 
When  they  looked  forward  to  the  result  of  their  present  situation,  the 
prospect  was  dark  and  comfortless.  They  saw  few  men  of  talents  and 
learning,  entering  into  the  ministerial  office;  few  parents,  encourag- 
ing their  children  to  qualify  themselves  for  a  profession,  which,  to 
many  other  difficulties,  added  the  inconveniences  of  poverty.  They 
beheld  those  desolating  principles  which,  in  other  countries,  have 
annihilated  everything  that  can  make  life  desirable,  rapidly  gaining 
ground,  and  in  their  train,  fanaticism,  equally  destructive  of  genuine 
piety  and  morality. 

That  they  have  often  been  relieved  from  some  of  their  embarrass- 
ments by  legislative  assistance,  they  acknowledge  with  gratitude ;  but 
it  was  both  painful  to  them  and  expensive  to  the  State,  to  be  coming 
forward  with  applications  at  every  session.  Particularly  cautious  not 
to  interfere  with  the  rules  or  policy  of  other  religious  denominations, 
nor,  indeed,  wishing  to  secure  to  themselves  any  advantages  which 
should  not  be  extended  to  them,  your  memorialists  saw,  with  pleasure, 
that  the  legislature  of  Maryland  had  granted  acts  of  incorporation 
to  others,  as  full  and  extensive,  diflfering  only  in  some  things  relating 

c  337 ;] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

to  internal  government,  as  the  law,  for  which  they  petitioned.  Nay, 
thev  even  flattered  themselves  that  their  plan  was  preferable,  inas- 
much as  it  precluded  the  necessity  of  any  future  applications.'  They 
particularlv  desired  that  the  ministers  might  be  made  members  of  their 
respective  vestries;  and  on  this  head  remarked,  that  it  'would  be  a 
provision  extremely  beneficial,  especially  to  country  parishes,  and  that 
it  has  been  adopted  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  every  State, 
except  that  of  Maryland.'  With  this  memorial  and  petition,  and  the 
law,  as  framed  by  the  convention.  Bishop  Claggett  presented  himself 
before  the  legislature,  and  was  at  length  successful.  The  bill,  with 
some  slight  alterations,  was  passed  into  a  law,  and  the  Church,  as  to 
temporals,  now  occupied  more  advantageous  ground." 

Nicho/as  C.  Everett. 

Mr.  Everett  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1794,  was 
master  of  the  Nassau  Grammar  School  from  1798  to  1799,  and  took 
his  degree  of  master  of  arts  in  1798.  He  was  a  nephew  of  the  wife  of 
Walter  Minto,  professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy  in 
the  college  at  Princeton.  He  studied  law  and  practised  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  and  was  at  one  time  a  justice  of  one  of  the  city  courts. 

Mr.  Moore. 

A  careful  scrutiny  has  been  made  of  the  arrivals  from  Europe,  as  given 
in  the  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Washington,  and  Alexandria  papers 
of  the  period,  without  finding  the  name  of  this  gentleman. 

Robert  Fin  ley. 

For  notice  see  page  97. 

Matthew  La  Rue  Perrine. 

Matthew  La  Rue  Perrine  was  born  May  4,  1777,  in  Freehold,  New 
Jersey,  and  on  June  29  of  the  same  j-ear  he  was  baptized  in  "  Old 
Tennent  Church  "  at  Freehold  by  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  Jr.  He 
was  of  Huguenot  descent,  being  the  great-great-grandson  of  Daniel 
Perrin,  "The  Huguenot,"  who  came  to  America  in  July,  1665,  with 
Governor  Philip  Carteret,  setding  first  on  the  Elizabethtowne  Planta- 
tions, in  NeM-  Jersey,  now  the  site  of  Elizabethport,  and  subsequently 
on  Staten  Island,  in  New  York,  at  which  place  his  children  w  ere  born, 
C   338   : 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

and  from  whence  many  of  his  descendants  removed  in  later  years  back 
to  Ne\v  Jersey. 

It  is  an  interesting  historical  fact  that  the  first  solemnization  of 
marriage  under  dul_v  organized  goxernment  in  New  Jersey  \Aas  in 
February,  1666,  and  that  the  parties  thereto  w  ere  this  Daniel  Perrin, 
"  The  Huguenot,"  and  Marie  Thorel,  and  the  first  marriage  license 
issued  by  Go\'ernor  Carteret  was  to  this  same  Daniel  Perrin,  "The 
Huguenot,"  authorizing  the  foregoing  ceremony.  The  original  of  this 
marriage  license  is  still  in  existence  in  the  State  House  at  Trenton, 
New  Jersey. 

Dr.  Perrine  was  a  son  of  Henr)-  Perrine  of  Freehold,  New  Jersey. 
Henry  Perrine  died  on  July  6,  1816,  at  the  then  parsonage  of  the 
Spring  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York  City. 

The  home  at  Freehold  was  historical.  It  consisted  of  about  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  land,  and  lay  just  without  the  limits  of  the  town.  Within 
the  bounds  of  this  farm  Mas  a  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  acres,  in 
which  the  main  part  of  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  in  the  War  of  In- 
dependence, was  fought,  while  in  an  orchard  adjoining,  twelve  apple 
trees  were  cut  down  by  cannon-shot.  The  homestead  was  close  by  this 
scene  of  battle,  and  it  is  said  that  seven  cannon-shot  passed  through  it 
during  the  battle. 

"While  he  was  yet  quite  young,"  so  Dr.  Sprague,  in  the  fourth 
volume  of  his  "Annals,"  page  237,  tells  us,  "he  went  to  reside  in 
the  family  of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ira  Condict,  at  Newton,  N.  J. ; 
and  while  there,  began  his  studies  preparatory  to  entering  College,  and 
about  the  same  time  had  his  attention  strongly  and  permanently  di- 
rected to  the  subject  of  religion.  When  Dr.  Condict  removed  to  New 
Brunswick,  young  Perrine  accompanied  him;  and,  having  completed 
his  preparatory  studies,  he  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  one  year 
in  advance,  in  1794,  and  graduated  in  1797.  He  studied  Theology 
under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  John  Woodhull,  the  minister  of  the 
congregation  in  which  he  ^vas  born ;  and  \\as  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  on  the  18th  of  September,  1799. 

"In  May,  1800,  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  a  mis- 
sionary for  four  months,  with  instructions  to  commence  his  mission 
at  Wilkesbarre  on  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  proceed  up  that  river 
and  the  Tioga  to  Painted  Post  and  Bath,  and  thence  through  the 
Genesee  country  and  Military  Tract  to  Fort  Stanwix.  He  was  ordained 
C   339   ] 


HOB.\RT  CORRESPONDENCE 

as  an  Evangelist  on  the  24th  of  June,  and  immediately  after  entered 
upon  his  mission. 

"On  the  28th  of  April,  1802,  he  \\  as  dismissed  from  the  Presbyter_y 
of  New  Brunswick  ;  on  the  4th  of  May  following,  w  as  recei\  ed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York;  and,  on  the  15th  of  June,  was  installed 
by  that  Presbytery  as  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Bottle 
Hill,  N.J.  In  1804,  he  performed  a  second  missionary  tour  of  three 
months,  mostly  in  Western  New  York,  under  a  commission  from  the 
General  Assembly. 

"When  the  division  of  the  Presbyterj'  of  New  York  took  place  in 
1809,  Mr.  Perrine  was  thrown  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Jersev.  He  remained  at  South  Hanover  till  1811,  when  he  received 
a  call  from  the  Spring  Street  Church  in  New  York.  He  was  dismissed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1811,  and  was 
received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ne\y  York  the  next  day,  and  on  the 
31st  of  the  same  month  was  installed  Pastor  of  the  Spring  Street 
Church.  Here  he  continued  until  the  26th  of  July,  1820,  when,  by 
his  own  request,  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved. 

He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Alleghany  Col- 
lege, Meadville,  in  1818. 

"On  the  2d  of  Ma}-,  1821,  he  was  elected  to  the  Professorship  of 
Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Polity,  in  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Auburn;  and,  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month,  was  dismissed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York  to  the  Presbytery  of  Cayuga,  with  a  \'iew 
to  his  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  Professorship.  For  two  j-ears  he 
performed  the  duties  of  not  only  his  own  Professorship,  but  that  of 
Theology  also.  He  frequently  preached  in  the  chapel  of  the  Seminary, 
and  in  the  churches  in  the  surrounding  country,  besides  occasionally 
taking  a  short  agency  in  collecting  funds  for  the  infant  institution. 
He  continued  actively  engaged  in  the  discharge  of  his  various  duties 
till  near  the  close  of  his  life.  His  last  illness  \\as  short,  but  was  at- 
tended with  much  suffering.  He  Mas  perfectly  tranquil  in  the  prospect 
of  death,  and  felt  that  he  knew  in  whom  he  had  believed.  He  died 
February  11,  1836,  in  his  fifty-ninth  year.  His  Funeral  Sermon  was 
preached  by  his  Colleague,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richards.  His  death  produced 
a  great  sensation  not  only  in  Auburn,  but  in  the  whole  surrounding 
region,  and  especially  among  those  who  had  enjoyed  the  benefit  of 
his  instruction. 

C   340  ] 


DAVID  ENGLISH 

"Dr.  Perrine  published  Letters  concerning  the  Plan  of  Salvation 
addressed  to  the  members  of  the  Spring  Street  Presbyterian  Church, 
New  York,  1816;  a  Sermon  before  a  Female  Missionary  Society  in 
New  York,  1817;  and  an  Abstract  of  Biblical  Geography,  1835. 

"Dr.  Perrine  was  married,  about  the  year  1800,  to  Anne,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Thompson,  then  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  The\-  had 
no  children  of  their  own,  but  adopted  and  educated  several  of  their 
nephews  and  other  relatives,  some  of  whom  have  since  become  dis- 
tinguished in  the  walks  of  honourable  usefulness.  Mrs.  Perrine  died 
in  Indiana  about  the  year  1851." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  A.  L.  Campbell,  writing  December  15,  1852,  says  of 
Dr.  Perrine: 

"I  first  became  acquainted  with  him  in  1826,  while  he  was  Pro- 
fessor at  Auburn,  and  from  that  time  till  his  death,  my  intercourse 
with  him  was  frequent  and  somewhat  intimate.  We  were  members 
of  the  same  Presbytery,  and  I  was  accustomed  also  frequently  to 
meet  him  at  the  examinations  in  the  Seminary.  His  character  was 
a  transparent  one,  and  there  was  little  difficulty  in  forming  a  coirect 
estimate  of  it. 

"Dr.  Perrine's  personal  appearance  was  altogether  agreeable.  In 
stature,  I  should  think  he  did  not  vary  much  from  five  feet,  nine 
inches ;  his  countenance  was  indicative  of  great  mildness  and  benig- 
nity, mingled  with  thoughtfulness  and  intelligence." 

In  the  graveyard  north  of  the  village  of  Auburn  a  monument  to 
Dr.  Perrine  was  erected,  with  a  Latin  inscription,  of  which  this  is  the 
translation : 

To  the  memory  of  Rev.  Matthew  La  Rue  Perrine,  D.D.,  Profes- 
sor of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Polity,  for  fifteen  years,  in  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Auburn.  He  was  learned,  amiable,  and  modest, 
and  li\ed  in  sincere  piety  towards  God  and  good-will  to\vards  all  men 
created  in  the  image  of  God.  He  was  born  May  5,  1777.  In  the  near 
prospect  of  death  he  \vas  tranquil  and  patient,  illumined  by  hope  in 
Christ  alone,  whom  he  jovfully  confessed  to  be  the  true  God  and  his 
most  glorious  Redeemer.  Having  prayed,  he  triumphed  o\er  death, 
blessed  his  friends,  and  ascended  to  glory,  February  12, 1836. — Some 
of  his  bereaved  friends  have  erected  this  monument  to  his  memory. 

The  reader  will  notice  the  difference  of  a  day  in  the  dates  of  the 
birth  and  death  as  given  in  other  authorities. 
C   341    ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

[  From  Hannah  Hobart  ] 

Decern'  17'.''  —  97  Sunday 

I  WAS  much  gratified  my  dear  John  on  receiving  the  com- 
munications inclosed  in  yours  of  the  lo'^^-inst.  I  showd  them 
to  your  Sister,  she  approved  of  all  except  that  she  thought  the 
time  you  had  limited  too  short  as  she  thought  neither  they  or 
you,  coud  judge  how  you  woud  like.  I  receivd  the  letters  on 
tuesday  before  noon,  and  seald  and  sent  that  for  D06V.  White 
as  soon  after  as  I  coud  get  the  wafer  dry.  M"^"  White  was  very 
ill  at  that  time, they  were  hourly  expe6ling  her  dissolution,  and 
the  next  day  at  noon  she  departed.  It  must  be  a  heavy  trial 
to  one  of  such  tender  feelings  as  D06I'  White  I  have  under- 
stood he  has  been  much  fatigued  with  the  close  and  particular 
attention  he  has  paid  to  her  during  her  illness,  and  it  was  said 
yesterday  he  was  so  ill  as  to  keep  his  bed,  whether  it  might 
have  been  so  or  not,  I  was  releivd  on  seeing  him  follow  with 
his  Son  Tho\  at  her  funeral  in  the  afternoon,  his  daughters  did 
not  go  I  do  not  know  whether  or  not  the  rules  of  propiety  call 
on  you  for  a  particular  adress  of  sympathy  on  the  occasion,  but 
I  shoud  suppose  if  you  my  dear  John  shoud  feel  a  disposition 
to  write,  it  woud  evince  your  respeft,  and  be  grateful  to  him 
to  have  a  letter  from  you,  his  present  situation  must  indisput- 
ably postpone  all  attention  to  your  particular  business  for  a 
time. 

M'  Mercer  is  not  yet  come.  I  forgot  to  mention  to  you  that 
your  Sister  intended  to  ask  him  to  lodge  there.  I  expeft  she 
will  now  be  able  to  do  it  without  inconvenience  as  M"^  Lampley 
will  soon  leave  her  and  that  will  make  room,  I  forgot  too 
to  tell  you  M"^*  Lampley  desired  me  long  since  to  give  her 
respe6ls  to  you  when  I  wrote.  I  was  at  your  Sisters  yesterday 

C  342  J 


HANNAH  HOBART 

and  learnt  there  that  Betsey  Smith  is  to  go  next  friday  to  Lan- 
caster to  spend  some  time  with  her  aunt  Barton  and  family. 
M'  Robertson  is  to  attend  her  in  the  stage  and  then  he  goes 
on  to  Winchester,  but  what  his  business  is,  or  when  he  is  to  re- 
turn I  did  not  learn,  I  had  no  opportunity  of  hearing  him  say 
any  thing  about  it,  but  it  is  likely  he  might  take  letters  if  you 
wanted  to  send  any. 

Your  brother  was  here  a  day  or  two  the  latter  end  of  last 
week,  he  went  to  consult  Col.  Miles  again  about  taking  part 
of  Dale  in  consideration  of  what  is  depending  between  J  P. 
and  R  E  H.,  the  Col.  was  to  go  to  P  G.  last  monday  to  make 
a  conclusion  whether  he  woud  take  it  or  not,  I  have  not  heard 
any  thing  about  it  since,  but  suppose  if  he  does  not  take  it, 
R  E  H  will  come  under  the  penalty  of  those  alluded  to  in 
J  M'^Kean's  advertisement  and  that  will  break  him  up  intirely. 

I  will  send  the  things  you  mention  by  M'  Mercer.  I  am  sorry 
you  are  obliged  again  to  have  recourse  to  the  bark,  it  is  well 
however  that  will  afford  you  a  temporary  releif,  I  shoud  be 
glad  it  were  more  effeftual  to  a  cure,  the  gloves  too,  I  fear 
they  will  not  be  of  use  longer  than  you  have  them  on  your 
fingers,  a  little  resolution  if  you  coud  acquire  it,  woud  do  more 
than  all  the  gloves  you  can  wear. 

M^  Smith  and  your  Sister  and  the  children  are  well.  I  have 
been  quite  as  well  so  far  this  winter  as  I  usually  am,  indeed 
rather  more  free  from  Rhuematic  complaints,  your  Sister  P. 
has  been  more  disordered  than  common  but  is  now  better. 

We  have  had  uncommonly  severe  weather  for  the  season 
but  a  few  days  past  more  moderate,  a  continuance  of  it  is  very 
desireable. 

My  dear  John  has  the  best  wishes  of  his  Affe6lionate 

H  HoBART 

If  my  dear  John  you  have  not  disposed  of  your  striped  Surtout 

[   343   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

and  do  not  intend  to  use  it,  I  woud  wish  you  to  send  it  down 
if  you  have  an  opportunity. 

I  hope  you  have  not  felt  inconvenience  from  sending  the 
note.  I  will  inclose  a  niemorand'".  of  what  the  several  articles 
cost,  and  you  can  add  them  to  the  other  mem'^™  which  I  sent, 
and  that  will  show  what  has  been  advancd  without  further 
recolle(^tion. 

I  wish  you  to  let  me  know  when  you  next  write  if  you  have 
receivd  the  calico  and  how  it  is  approved  of. 

Monday  morns.  Susey  has  been  to  enquire  how  D"^  White  and 
family  are  and  brings  word  they  are  in  health. 

Superscription  : 

M"  John  Henry  Hobart,  Princeton 


ANNOTATIONS 

Death  of  Mrs.  William  White. 

On  February  11,  1773,  the  Rev.  William  White  was  married  to 
Mary  Harrison.  Her  father  had  been  captain  of  a  merchant  vessel, 
and  a  successful  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  He  became  alderman  and 
mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  vestryman  and  warden  of  Christ  Church. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  them.  In  every  respect  their  married  life 
was  a  happy  one.  Mrs.  White  was  agreeable  and  accomplished.  She 
died  on  Wednesday,  December  13,  1797,  as  stated  by  Mrs.  Hobart. 

Thomas  Henry  White. 

Thomas  Henry  White  was  born  on  November  12,  1779.  He  was 
named  for  both  his  grandfathers.  Colonel  Thomas  White  of  Mary- 
land and  the  Hon.  Henry  Harrison  of  Philadelphia.  He  passed  a  long 
life  in  the  city  of  his  birth,  and  died  about  1860. 

Elizabeth  and  Mary  White. 

These  are  the  daughters  of  Bishop  White  mentioned  in  the  letter  of 

Mrs.  Hobart.  Eight  children  were  born  to  William  and  Mary  (Harri- 

C   344   ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

son)  White.  Five  of  them  died  young:  Ann,  Henry  Harrison,  Wil- 
liam, Henry  Harrison,  second,  and  an  unnamed  daughter.  Three 
attained  maturity,  married,  and  have  left  descendants:  Elizabeth, 
Mary,  and  Thomas  Harrison. 

Elizabeth  married  General  William  MacPherson.  She  died  in  1830, 
and  left  two  children. 

Mary  married  Enos  Bronson,  of  Connecticut,  the  editor  of  the 
"United  States  Gazette."  She  died  in  1826,  and  left  seven  children. 

Thomas  Harrison  married  Mary  Rey,  a  daughter  of  General  Rich- 
ard Heath  of  Baltimore.  He  died  in  October,  1859,  having  nearly 
reached  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  left  five  children. 

Sarah  Lampley. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Lampley  kept  a  boarding-house  at  No.  83  High  Street, 

Philadelphia. 

Children  of  Robei't  and  Anna  Smith. 

Robert  Smith  was  married  to  Anna,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Rhea,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  March 
29,  1781,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Sproat.  Their  children  were: 

Elizabeth,  born  January  14,  1782;  baptized  March  31,  1782.  In 
this  correspondence  she  is  commonly  called  Betsey. 

John  Rhea  (Clarendon),  born  March  19,  1783  ;  baptized  May  4, 
1783;  died  in  1871. 

Mary  Rhea,  baptized  May  22,  1785;  buried  March  16,  1786. 

Robert,  born  April  28,  1787;  baptized  June  10,  1787;  buried  July 
14,  1787. 

Alexander  Robertson,  baptized  September  28,  1788;  buried  May 
25, 1789. 

Mrs.  Anna  Smith  died  in  May,  1789,  in  her  thirty-sixth  year,  and 
was  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  on 
May  31,  1789.  For  sketch  of  Robert  Smith  see  page  34. 

Mrs.  William  Barton. 

The  "Aunt  Barton"  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  letter  from  Mrs. 
Hobart  was  the  wife  of  Judge  William  Barton,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  and  Esther  (Rittenhouse)  Barton,  who  was  born  at  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania.  He  went  to  England  in  1 775  with  letters  from  the 
C   345   ] 


HOBART  CORRESPONDENCE 

Rev.  Dr.  Richard  Peters  and  others.  Here  he  completed  his  education. 
He  returned  to  America  in  1778  by  way  of  Holland  and  the  West 
Indies,  and  assisted,  on  his  passage  from  the  island,  in  the  capture  of 
a  British  privateer,  which  was  brought  to  Baltimore,  arriving  at  that 
port  on  January  8,  1779.  He  immediately  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  United  States.  His  uncle,  the  famous  astronomer,  A\rote  him, 
on  January  24,  a  letter  of  congratulation  on  his  safe  arrival.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  Lancaster  bar  and  commenced  a  profitable  practice. 
He  was  an  officer  in  the  Lancaster  militia,  and  was  firm  and  enthu- 
siastic in  the  cause  of  the  United  States.  With  his  \oice  and  w  ith  his 
pen,  he  advocated  the  cause  of  freedom.  Many  of  the  addresses  of  the 
Republican  party  were  drawn  up  by  him.  In  1789  he  was  appointed  a 
judge  of  the  western  part  of  Pennsylvania,  an  office  he  filled  with  great 
acceptability.  He  was  afterward  president-judge  of  that  district  at  the 
solicitation  of  the  Lancaster  bar.  In  1800  he  was  prothonotary  of  Lan- 
caster County.  He  was  a  man  of  culti\ated  taste,  legal  lore,  and  a  writer 
of  much  force  and  polish.  In  1809  he  removed  with  his  familv  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  became  secretary  of  the  Philosophical  Society. 

He  married  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Rhea  of  Philadelphia.  He 
wrote  the  life  of  David  Rittenhouse,  and  a  pamphlet  on  the  freedom 
of  navigation  and  maritime  commerce. 

His  son,  John  Rhea  Barton,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  sur- 
geons in  Philadelphia.  His  methods  of  treating  a  compound  fracture 
by  a  bran  dressing  and  reducing  a  peculiar  fracture  of  the  radius  are 
still  known  by  his  name.  Dr.  John  Barton  died  on  January  1,  1871. 

Joseph  Potts. 

J.  P.  was  Joseph  Potts,  for  notice  of  whom  see  page  272. 

Robert  Enoch  Hobart. 

R.  E.  H.  was  Robert  Enoch  Hobart,  for  notice  of  whom  see  page  12. 

PottsgroTe. 

P.  G.  is  an  abbreviation  for  Pottsgrove,  w  hich  was  the  home  of  the 
Potts  family.  It  was  situate  in  Montgomery  County,  about  thirty 
miles  from  Philadelphia.  Near  it  were  the  forges  and  furnaces  oper- 
ated by  various  members  of  the  family.  For  notice  on  Dale  Forge  see 
page  318. 

C   346   ] 


HANNAH  HOBART 

McKean's  Advei'tisement. 

This  relates  to  the  expiration  of  the  time  to  perfect  the  title  to  ' '  waste 
lands"  in  the  unsettled  portion  of  Pennsylvania,  by  the  payment  of 
the  sum  remaining  due  before  the  time  limit  expired.  Such  advertise- 
ments \\ere  common  at  that  period.  The  same  method  is  now  in  use 
bv  the  United  States  Land  Office. 

The  author  of  the  advertisement  was  Thomas  McKean,  then  chief 
justice  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  man  of  great  prominence.  He  was 
born  in  Londonderry,  Pennsylvania,  on  March  19,  1734.  His  par- 
ents, William  and  Laetitia  (Finney)  McKean,  came  from  the  North  of 
Ireland.  Their  son  was  educated  under  the  supervision  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Allison,  at  New  Castle,  Delaw  are.  He  studied  law  with  his 
relative,  the  Hon.  David  Finney  of  New  Castle,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1754.  He  served  as  deputy  attorney-general  of  Sussex 
County  from  1756  to  1758,  and  with  Caesar  Rodney,  codified  the 
law  s  of  Delaware.  He  represented  New  Castle  County  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  from  1762  to  1769.  He  lived  in  Phila- 
delphia from  1763  to  1769,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Stamp  Act 
Congress  which  met  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1765,  and  a  member 
of  the  committee  which  prepared  a  memorial  to  Parliament.  In  1769 
he  was  agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  to  make  copies  of  all 
papers  concerning  land-titles  in  Delaware,  found  in  the  records  of 
the  Province  of  New  York.  In  1771  he  was  collector  of  customs  for 
the  port  of  New  Castle.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  served  continuously  until  1781.  He  signed  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  on  August  1,  1776,  as  he  was  absent  when  it  was 
passed,  being  at  Perth  Amboy,  New  Jersey,  with  the  regiment  of  mi- 
litia of  which  he  was  colonel,  in  support  of  Washington,  and  remain- 
ing until  "the  flying  Camp  "  was  formed.  From  1776  to  1798  he  was 
chief  justice  of  Pennsylvania.  He  drew  up  the  Constitution  of  the 
State  of  Delaware,  which  was  adopted  on  September  20,  1776.  In 
that  year  he  was  elected  President  of  the  State  of  Delaware.  He  served 
in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Pennsylvania  in  1778.  He  was 
governor  of  Delaware  from  1799  to  1808,  when  he  retired  from  pub- 
lic life.  He  died  at  Philadelphia,  June  24,  1817. 

Siisey. 

Susey  was  evidendy  a  servant  of  Mrs.  Hobart. 

C   347   ] 


INDEXES 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX  TO  LETTERS 

1757-1797 

Note.  A  Imef  biographical  sketch  precedes  the  first  letter  of  each  corre- 
spondent, which  is  distinguished  by  an  asterisk  in  the  following  list.  Un- 
less the  contrary  is  stated,  all  letters  are  addressed  to  John  Henry  Hobart. 


LETTER 

DATE 

PAGE 

*AbeeI,  John  Neilson 

August  30,  1796 

232 

♦Alexander,  Joseph  McKnitt 

4.;-//  23,    1793 

23 

*Auchmuty,  Samuel,  to  John  Winthrop 

July  18,  1757 

5 

*Axtell, 

Henry,  Jr. 

December  28,  1796 

237 

Axtell, 

Henrv,  Jr. 

September  23,  I  797 

305 

*  English 

,  David 

January  31,  1796 

163 

English, 

,  David 

May  1 1,  1796 

199 

English, 

,  David 

August  23,  1796 

222 

English. 

,  David 

December  15,  1 797 

327 

English, 

,  David 

December  16,  I  797 

332 

*  Gahn,  Henry,  to  Mary  Goodin  Chandler 

Onober  6,  1797 

309 

*  Hobart, 

Hannah 

January  2,  1797 

242 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

January  23,  I  797 

245 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

February  9,  i  797 

248 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

February  20,  1 797 

257 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

February  24,  1 797 

259 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

March  II,  1797 

260 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

April  I,  1797 

271 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

April  14,  1797 

274 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

May  16,  1797 

275 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

May  21,  1797 

276 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

May  29,  1797 

278 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

June  23,  1797 

279 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

July  13,  1797 

281 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

August  10,  1797 

286 

Hobart, 

Hannah 

August  20,  1797 

287 

C  351  '] 


INDEX    ro  LE'lTERS 


LETTER 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart,  Hannah 

Hobart  to  his  Mother 

Hobart  to  his  Sister  Rebecca 

*  Ingersoll,  Jared 
Ingersoll,  Jared 

*  Minto,  Walter,  to  William  Stewart 

*  Otto,  John  Conrad 
Otto,  John  Conrad 
Otto,  John  Conrad 
Otto,  John  Conrad 
Otto,  John  Conrad 

*  Reed,  Joseph 

*  Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 


DATE 

PAGE 

September  2,  I  797 

297 

September  22,  I  797 

303 

November  10,  I  797 

3'4 

November  17,  1797 

316 

November  24,  I  797 

3«8 

November  30,  1797 

326 

December  17,  I  797 

342 

1792 

1 1 

September  3,  i  797 

300 

July  20,  1797 

28+ 

September  27,  I  797 

308 

Alay  16,  1796 

205 

June  29,  1793 

28 

Oaober  25,  1795 

139 

January  1  7,  i  796 

150 

May  8,  I  796 

194 

June  12,  1796 

214 

May  20,  1796 

206 

July  22,  1794 

52 

August  13,  1794 

58 

Augmt  27,  1794 

70 

September  17,  I  794 

85 

September  18,  1794 

8- 

July  16,  1795 

1 1 1 

Auguit  5,  1795 

118 

August  24,  1795 

123 

September,  1 795 

132 

OSiober  19,  I  795 

135 

OSiober  23,  I  795 

138 

December  I,  1795 

148 

January  21,  1 796 

153 

February  16,  1796 

171 

C  352  '] 


INDEX  TO  LETTERS 


LETTER 

Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 
Robertson,  James 

*  Rush,  Benjamin 
*Sayrs,  John  Johnson 

Sayrs,  John  Johnson 
Sayrs,  John  Johnson 
Sayrs,  John  Johnson 

*  Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren 

*  Skinner,  Abraham,  Jr. 
Skinner,  Abraham,  Jr. 
Skinner,  Abraham,  Jr. 

*  Skinner,  Abraham,  Sr. 
Skinner,  Abraham,  Sr. 

*  Smith,  Robert 


DATE 

PAGE 

April  7,  1796 

177 

June  6,  1796 

210 

yune  24,  1796 

219 

July  25,  I  796 

220 

December  19,  1796 

236 

February  15,  1797 

251 

March  16,  1797 

263 

March  22,  1797 

269 

4.n7  7,  1797 

273 

August  24,  1797 

290 

August  29,  1797 

293 

September  2,  I  797 

299 

Oiiober  15,  1 796 

235 

December  3,  I  792 

20 

August  14,  1795 

122 

November  7,  1795 

143 

March  17,  1796 

172 

November  6,  1794 

92 

November  8,  1 794 

98 

November  15,  1794 

100 

November  17,  1794 

102 

November  27,  1794 

106 

December  4,  I  794 

108 

April  28,  1795 

109 

September  16,  1795 

130 

November,  1795 

146 

OSiober  19,  I  793 

46 

August  14,  1794 

66 

September  15,  I  794 

80 

September  6,  1795 

127 

OSiober  14,  1795 

133 

September  3,  1793 

35 

C   353   H 


INDEX  TO  LETTERS 


LETTER 

Smith,  Robert 
Smith,  Robert 

*  Stewart,  Walter 
Stewart,  Walter 

*  Stewart,  William 


DATE 

PAGE 

September  1 1 ,  i ' 

■93 

36 

November  26,  i 

797 

322 

May  II,  1796 

197 

June  4,  1796 

208 

June  16,  1796 

217 

C   354  ] 


ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  ANNOTATIONS 


SUBJECT 

PAGE 

Adams,  Mrs. 

289 

Adams's  Defence 

256 

Addison,  Joseph 

152 

Agnew,  Mr. 

326 

Agnew,  Daniel,  reference  to  50,331 

Agnew,  James  203 

Ainsworth,  Robert  260 

Allison,  Francis  168 

Ames,  Fisher  21 1 

Archer,  Mrs.  15 

Armatt,  Thomas  A.  16 

Auchmuty,  Robert  8 


IJALDWIN,  Abraham 

Barclay,  Henry 

Barton,  Mrs.  William 

Bartow,  Thomas 

Bend,  Joseph  Grove  John,  ref- 
erence to 

Bibb,  George 

Briggs,  J. 

Brissot,  Pierre  Jean 

Brothers  and  Sisters  of  Hannah 
Hobart 

Brown,  Thomas 

Burke,  Edmund 

Burnet,  George  Whitefield 
Reference  to  142, 

Burnet,  Jacob 
Reference  to 

Burnett,  Eliezer 


191 

7 

345 

40 

168 

31 

315 

212 

262 
33 


152 


142 

170 


Cjaldwell,  Joseph  99 

Reference  to     169,  203,  329 

C   35 


SUBJECT 

Capture  of  American  Vessels, 

reference  to 
Capture  of  American  Vessels 

by  the  French 
Carey,  Clarke  Henry 
Carey,  Matthew 
Chandler,  Mary  Goodin 
Charlotte  Hall 
Chesapeake  Fleet,  The 
Chesleys,  The 
Chestnut,  James 
Chetwood,  William 
Chew,  Parson 
Claggett,    Bishop,     and     the 

Maryland  Assembly 
Claggett's,  Bishop,  Daughters 
Claggett,  Thomas 
Clairfait,  General 
Clarke,  W.  James 
Claypoole,  David  C. 
Cobbett,  William 

Reference  to 
Coke,  Thomas 
College  at  Abingdon 
Condition  of  Affairs  in  Europe 

in  Summer  of  1794 
Cox 

Coxe,  William 
Cruiser,  Mr. 
Currie,  A. 

Dale  Forge 

Date  of  Hobart's  Letter  to  his 
Mother 

5  ] 


58 

254 
118 

"7 
313 
229 

65 

240 

25 
142 

224 

336 
225 
223 

72 
218 

16 

157 
265 

329 
168 

72 
69 

110 
27 

156 

318 


ANNOTATIONS 


SUBJECT 

Davis,  Henry  Lyon 

Dayton,  Elias 

Dayton,  Jonathan 

Dayton,  Mary 

Davton,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elias 

Death  of  Room-mate 

Debates  in   Congress,   1795- 

1796 
Defeat  of  French  Fleet 
Dennison,  Mr. 
Dent,  Hatch 
Dickson,  John  M. 
Digges,  Mrs. 
Disorder  in  Philadelphia 
Ditmars,  Dow 

Reference  to 
Dunlap,  John 
Dunwoody's  Tavern 

JIarly,  Peter 
Earthquake,  July,  1757 
Elegant  ExtraiEts,  by  V.  Knox 
Elmendorf,  Edmund 
English,  Mrs. 
Everett,  Nicholas  C. 

Faesh,  Mr. 
Fashionable  Infidelity 
Finley,  Robert 

Reference  to 
Fly  Market,  The 
Former  Tutor 
Forsyth,  Robert  Marshall 

Reference  to   99,  131,  2S 

Cjaston,  William 
Gibson,  John 


PAGE 

SUBJECT 

PAGE 

228 

Gilmore,  Robert 

201 

3" 

Graham,  Jonathan 

48 

335 

Green,  Ashbel 

166 

312 

Green,  Richard  M. 

203 

313 

Reference  to 

328 

25 

Guion,  Isaac  Lee 

142 

Gureis,  Mrs. 

17 

179 

Guthrie,  William 

118 

65 

167 

iiAMiLTON,  James 

39 

228 

Harris,  Charles  Wilson 

25 

109 

Harris,  Israel 

141 

225 

Harris,  Thomas  R. 

141 

288 

Hazard,  Ebenezer 

316 

50 

Heberton,  George 

124 

69 

Higginbotham,  Ralph 

336 

16 

Higginson,  Nathaniel 

61 

304 

History  of  Jacobinism 

253 

Hobart,  Mary 

18 

32 

Hobart,  Nathaniel  Potts 

18 

9 

Hobart,  Rebecca 

13 

:      16 

Hobart,  Robert  Enoch 

12 

328 

Reference  to                      36. 

.  346 

329 

Hobart,  Robert  Enoch,  Jr. 

275 

338 

Hobart,  Sarah 

•3 

Hobart's  Visit  to  Virginia 

333 

312 

Horsley,  Samuel 

292 

107 

Hughes,  Thomas  Edgar 

278 

97 

Hunt,  Holloway  Whitefield 

97 

338 

Hunt,  Nathaniel 

30 

40 

Hunt,  Robert 

31 

136 

Hunter,  Andrew 

30 

93 

Hutchinson,  James 

37 

'',  302 

Indian  Queen,  The 

157 

137 

Ingersoll,  Charles  Jared,  refer- 

30 

ence  to 

285 

C   356  ] 


ANNOTATIONS 


SUBJECT  PAGE 

Insurance  Company  of  North 

America  247 

Ireland,  John,  of  Maryland  167 

Israel,  Israel  89 


James,  J. 

166 

Jay,  John 

55 

Jay  Treaty,  The 

61 

Jefferson,  Thomas 

229 

Reference  to 

329 

Johns,  Kinsey 

166 

K-ing's  College 

7 

Kitchell,  Aaron 

193 

Knox,  Mrs. 

323 

Knox,  William,  &  Co. 

292 

Lamercy,  Mr. 

226 

Lampley,  Sarah 

345 

Laying    out    of   the    City 

of 

Washington 

201 

Lee,  Henry 

200 

Reference  to 

231 

Leslie  and  Price 

250 

Lewis,  John 

114 

Little,  John 

84 

Littlejohn,  Joseph  Blount 

198 

Lloyd,  Edward 

336 

Lucv 

18 

Lusby,  Josiah 

16 

Maclean,  John 

169 

Reference  to 

203 

MacMullen,  French  F. 

131 

Madison,  James 

192 

Magaw,  Samuel 

259 

SUBJECT  PAGE 

Mapleton  27 
Mason,  Stevens  Thomson  117 
Mattison,  Aaron  329 
Maurv,  Abbe  159 
Maxwell,  George  Clifford  142 
McCormick,  Andrew  Thomas  226 
McKean's  Advertisement  347 
McKee,  David  25 
McRee  142 
Mercer,  Colonel  328 
Miles,  Samuel  315 
Reference  to  318 
Miller,  Mr. and  Mrs.  John,  ref- 
erence to  289 
Miller,  Mrs.  John  281 
Minerva,  The  295 
Minto,  Walter,  reference  to  48 
Minto,  Mrs.  Walter  331 
Mitchell,  Edward  115 
Moore,  Mr.  338 
Morford,  Stephen  334 
Morris,  Robert  226 
Murrays,  The  Miss  312 

r^ASSAU  Hotel,  Princeton  60 

Neilson,  John  152 

New  York  Post  Office,  The  37 

Newton,  John  239 

Nicholson,  John  226 

Nourse,  Joseph  221 

Office  accepted  by  Mr.  Ho- 

bart  155 

Olden,  David  334 

Otto,  Daniel  152,  195 

Otto,  Jacob  Schweighauser  195 

Reference  to  216 

357    ~\ 


ANNOTATIONS 


SUBJECT  I 

Otto,    John    Conrad,    Class- 
mates of 


33 


Paley,  William 

306 

Parrot,  Joseph 

lOI 

Paterson,  William 

328 

Peggy 

37 

Pendleton,  Philip  Clayton 

1 

131 

Perkins,  Elisha 

201 

Reference  to 

334 

Perrine,  Matthew  La  Rue 

338 

Phillips,  William 

H7 

Pickering,  Timothy 

255 

Pinckney,  Charles  Cotesworth 

265 

Reference  to 

270 

Play  performed  October,  : 

'797 

312 

Pope,  Quotation  from 

216 

Porcupine,  Peter,  reference  to 

152 

Potts,   Mrs.  John,   from 

Vir- 

ginia 

258 

Potts,  Joseph 

272 

Reference  to 

346 

Pottsgrove 

346 

Poyntell,  William 

278 

President  in  August,  1 796, 

The 

226 

Price,  Isaac 

250 

Priestley,  Joseph 

83 

Proposed  Settlement  at  Lancas- 

ter, The 

244 

JxALPH,  George 

227 

Randolph,  Edmund 

124 

Randolph's  Vindication 

149 

Ratification    of    Treaty 

with 

Great  Britain 

"5 

Redman,  John 

168 

Reed,  Dennis  de  Berdt 

207 

C  358 

SUBJECT  PAGE 

Rhea,  Ebenezcr  61 

Rhea,  Marv  40 
Robertson,  James,  reference  to    37 

Robertson,  Robert  121 

Ross,  John  137 

Ross  &  Simson  221 

RufF,  Daniel  262 

Ruff,  Hannah  Webster  280 

Rush,  Benjamin,  reference  to  152 

Rutledge,  John  125 

Salles,  Mr.  258 
Scott,  Hannah  130 
Seabury,  Samuel  173 
Semmes  Tavern  202 
Shippen,  William  120 
Shuckford,  Samuel  240 
Skinner,  Abraham,  Jr.,  refer- 
ence to  31 
Skinner,  Abraham,  Sr.,  refer- 
ence to  40 
Skinner,  Gloriana  50 
Smith,  Ebenezcr  61 
Smith,  Henry  Hobart  320 
Reference  to  324 
Smith,  James  B.  55 
Reference  to  72 
Smith,  James  R.  45 
Smith,  John  Rhea  Clarendon  323 
Smith  on  American  Constitu- 
tion 268 
Smith,  Robert  loi 
Smith,  Robert  and  Anna,  Chil- 
dren of 
Smith,  Samuel  Stanhope 

Reference  to 
Smith  Street 


] 


345 

105 

37.61 

37 


ANNOTATIONS 


SUBJECT  PAGE 

Smith's  Observations  261 

Spelling  of  Sayr  2 1 
Stages  between  New  York  and 

Philadelphia  60 
Stewart,    William,     reference 

to                                       198,  205 

Stocker,  Mary  Katherine  282 

Stockers,  The  288 

Susey  347 


1  AYLOR,  Bennet 

26 

Reference  to 

30,84 

Tenant,  John 

289 

Tenbrook,  Abraham 

220 

Terhune,  John 

26 

Reference  to                  31, 

69,  84 

Terhune,  John,  Brother  of 

69 

Thompson,  Stephen 

240 

Reference  to 

306 

Travers,  John 

203 

Treadwell,  Daniel 

9 

United  States  Commission  at 

Paris,  The  324 

Ursula  276 


Van  Dike,  John  J. 


239 


SUBJECT  PAGE 

Walker,  John  145 
Wallace,  John  Bradford  233 
Wallace,  Joshua  Maddox  31 
Reference  to  69 
Webster  &    Co.,   Paper  pub- 
lished bv  i  76 
Westcott  &  Thomas  335 
Wetherall,  Aunt  262 
Whig  Society,  Princeton  32 
Whiskey  Rebellion,  The  75 
Reference  to  89 
White,  Alexander  141 
Reference  to                    142,216 
White,  Elizabeth  and  Mary       344 
White,  Offer  from  Bishop  155 
White,  Thomas  Henry  344 
White,  William  155 
White,  William,  Jr.  248 
White,  Mrs.  William  326 
Death  of  344 
White's  Diploma  142 
Willing,  Thomas  39 
Winthrop,  John  8 
Witherspoon,  John  103 

I  ELLOw  Fever,  The  41 

Young,  William  278 


C   359  H 


LIST  OF  BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

This  is  not  a  list  or  bibliography  of  the  works  consulted  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  this  volume;  it  is  only  a  list  of  the  books  actually  quoted. 

Alexander,  Sajiuel  Da  vies 

Princeton  College  during  the  Eighteenth  Century,  by  Samuel 
Davies  Alexander,  an  Alumnus.  New  York:  Anson  D.  F.Ran- 
dolph &  Company,  770  Broadway,  cor.  9th  Street. 

.AxLEy,  Ethax 

Clergy  in  Maryland  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  since  the 
Independence  of  1783,  by  Rev.  Ethan  Allen,  D.D.,  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Maryland.  Baltimore:  James  S.  Waters,  1860. 

American  Academy  of  .\rts  and  Sciences 

Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  To  the 
End  of  the  Year  mdcclxxxiii.  Boston:  Printed  by  Adams  and 
Nourse  in  Court-street,  mdcclxxxv. 

Battle,  Kemp  P. 

History  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  from  its  beginning  to 
the  death  of  President  Swain,  1789-1868,  by  Kemp  P.  Battle, 
Alumni  Professor  of  Histor}-  to  the  Present  Time.  Printed  for  the 
Author  by  Edwards  &.  Broughton  Company,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Berrian,  William 

An  Historical  Sketch  of  Trinity  Church,  Ne\\-York,  by  the  Rev. 
William  Berrian,  D.D.,  the  Rector  of  the  same.  New  York:  Stan- 
ford and  Swords,  139,  Broadway.  1847. 

The  Posthumous  Works  of  the  late  Right  Reverend  John  Henry 
Hobart,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
State  of  New-York.  With  a  Memoir  of  his  Life,  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Berrian,  D.D. ,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New-York.  In  three 
volumes.  New -York  :  Published  by  Swords,  Stanford,  and  Co.  No. 
152  Broadwa}'.  1833. 

Recollections  of  Departed  Friends,  by  the  Rev.  \\'illiam  Berrian, 
D.D. ,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New-York.  Second  Edition.  Ne^\■- 
York:  Stanford  and  Swords,  137,  Broadway.  1850.  , 

:  361 : 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Bolton,  Robert 

History  of  tlie  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  County  of  \\^est- 
chester,  from  its  Foundation,  a.d.  1693,  to  a.d.  1853.  Bv  Robert 
Bolton,  A.M.,  Author  of  the  "  History  of  Westchester  County." 
A  member  of  the  Prot.  Episcopal,  Neu-York,  and  Georgia  Histori- 
cal Societies. 

"  The  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  is  the  brightest  light  shining  in  the 
candlestick  of  the  Reformation;  it  has  done  more.,  and  is  doing  more,  for  the 
cause  of  Christ,  than  all  Christendom  united." — Hon.  Rufus  King. 

New-York:  Stanford  &  Swords,  Publishers.  1855. 
Burgess,  George 

List  of  Persons  admitted  to  the  Order  of  Deacons  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  in  the  United  States  of  America,  From  a.d. 
1785,  to  A.D.  1857,  Both  Inclusiye.  Prepared  by  the  late  Right 
Rey.  George  Burgess,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Maine.  IBoston :  A.  Wil- 
liams &  Co.  1875. 

Chandler,  Thomas  Bradbury 

The  Life  of  Samuel  Johnson,  D.D.,  the  First  President  of  King's 
College  in  New  York,  by  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  D.D.  New 
York:  Printed  by  T.  &  J.  Swords,  No.  160  Pearl  Street.  1805. 

Churchman's  Monthly  Magazine 

The  Churchman's  Monthly  Magazine.  Volumes  i,  iii,  iy,  yii,  yiii. 

COXE,    A.    CLEyELAND 

Soldier  and  Seryant  Series.  Recollections  of  Bishop  Hobart,  by  the 
Rt.  Rey.  A.  Cleyeland  Coxe,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Western 
New  York.  Hartford,  Connecticut:  Junior  Auxiliary  Publishing 
Company,  211  State  St. 

Cross,  Arthur  Lyon 

The  Anglican  Episcopate  and  the  American  Colonies,  by  Arthur 
Lyon  Cross,  Ph.D.,  Instructor  in  History  in  the  Uniyersity  of 
Michigan,  sometime  Assistant  in  American  History  in  Haryard 
University.  New  York :  Longmans,  Green,  and  Co.  London  and 
Bombay.  1902. 

Dalcho,  Frederick 

An  Historical  Account  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  South- 
C   362   J 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Dalcho,  Frederick  (continued) 

Carolina,  from  the  First  Settlement  of  the  Pro\'ince,  to  the  War 
of  the  Re^•ollltion  ;  with  Notices  of  the  Present  State  of  the  Church 
in  Each  Parish :  and  Some  Account  of  the  Early  Civil  History  of 
Carolina,  never  before  published.  To  which  are  added  ;  The  Laws 
Relating  to  Religious  Worship  ;  the  Journals  and  Rules  of  the  Con- 
vention of  South-Carolina  ;  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church,  and  the  Course  of  Ecclesiastical  Studies : 
with  an  Index,  and  List  of  Subscribers.  By  Frederick  Dalcho, 
M.D.,  Assistant  Minister  of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Charleston. 
Charleston :  Puljlished  by  E.  Thayer,  at  his  Theological  Book- 
Store,  Broad  Street.  Arch'd.  E.  Miller,  Printer,  120,  Broad-street. 
1820. 

DeCosta,  B.  F. 

Memoirs  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America  containing  L  A  Narrative  of  the  Organization  and 
of  the  Early  Measures  of  the  Church.  IL  Additional  Statements 
and  Remarks.  IIL  An  Appendix  of  Original  Papers.  By  the  Right 
Rev.  William  White,  D.D.  Edited  with  Notes  and  a  Sketch  of 
the  Origin  and  Progress  of  the  Colonial  Church  by  the  Rev.  B.  F. 
DeCosta.  New  York:  E.  P.  Dutton  &  Company,  713  Broadway. 
1880. 

Dix,  Morgan 

A  History  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  City  of  New 
York,  compiled  by  order  of  the  Corporation  and  Edited  by  Mor- 
gan Dix,  S.T.D.,  D.C.L.,  Ninth  Rector.  Four  volumes.  New 
York:  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  The  Knickerbocker  Press.  1898- 
1906. 

Elmer,  Ebenezer 

Journal  kept  during  an  Expedition  to  Canada  in  1776,  by  Eben- 
ezer Elmer,  Lieutenant  in  the  Third  Regiment  of  New  Jersey 
Troops  in  the  Continental  Service,  commanded  by  Colonel  Elias 
Dayton.  Printed  from  the  Original  Manuscript  presented  to  the 
Historical  Society  by  Hon.  L.  Q.  C.  Elmer  of  Bridgeton.  Published 
in  volumes  ii  and  iii  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  New  Jersey  His- 
torical Society,  1846-49. 

:   363   J 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Hardie,  James 

The  Philadelphia  Directory  and  Register,  by  James  Hardie,  A.M. 
Philadelphia  :  Printed  for  the  Author  by  T.  Dobson,  No.  41  South 
Second  Street.  1793.  (Price  Five  Eighths  of  a  Dollar.) 

The  Philadelphia  Directory  and  Register :  the  Second  Edition  by 
James  Hardie,  A.M.  Philadelphia:  Printed  for  the  Author  by 
Jacob  Johnson  &.  Co.,  No.  147  Market  Street,  mdccxciv.  (Price  62^^ 
cents.) 

Hawks,  Francis  L. 

Contributions  to  the  Ecclesiastical  History  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  By  Francis  L.  Hawks,  Rector  of  St.  Thomas's  Church, 
New-York. 

Volume  i,  published  in  New  York  by  Harper  8<:  Brothers,  No.  82 
ClifF-Street.  1836.  Volume  ii,  pulilished  in  New  York  by  John  S. 
Taylor,  Theological  and  Sunday-School  Bookseller,  Brick  Church 
Chapel.  1839. 

Hawks  and  Perry 

Documentary  History  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churcli,  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  containing  Numerous  hitherto  Unpub- 
lished Documents  concerning  the  Church  in  Connecticut,  Francis 
L.  Hawks, D.D.,  LL.D.,  William  Stevens  Perry,  A.M., Editors. 
New-York :  James  Pott,  Publisher,  No.  5  Cooper  Union,  Fourth 
Avenue.  1863. 

Hills,  George  Morgan 

History  of  the  Church  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  comprising  the 
Facts  and  Incidents  of  nearly  Two  Hundred  Years,  from  Origi- 
nal Contemporaneous  Sources,  by  the  Re\'.  George  Morgan  Hills, 
D.D.,  Rector  of  St.  Mary's  Parish,  and  Dean  of  theCon\ocation  of 
Burlington. Trenton,  New  Jersej- :  William  S.  Sharp,  Printer.  1876. 

James,  Mrs.  Thomas  Potts 

Memorial  of  Thomas  Potts,  Junior,  who  setded  in  Pennsylvania; 
with  an  Historic-Genealogical  Account  of  his  Descendants  to  the 
Eighth  Generation.  By  Mrs.  Thomas  Potts  James,  Member  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  Cambridge:  Privately  Printed. 
1874. 

C   364   ] 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Jarvis,  Samuel  Farmar 

Introduction  to  the  History  of  the  Church  :  Being  a  New  Enquiry 
into  the  True  Date  and  Birth  and  Death  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  and  containing  an  original  Harmony  of  the  Four  Gos- 
pels now  First  Arranged  in  the  Order  of  Time,  by  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Farmar  Jarvis,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Historiographer  of  the  Church, 
Member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Societ_y  of  Philadelphia,  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  of  Boston,  the  American 
Antiquarian  Society  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  the  Historical 
Societies  of  Ne\\-  York  and  Connecticut,  Corresponding  Member  of 
the  National  Institute  at  Washington.  New  York :  Published  by 
Harper  8c  Brothers,  No.  82  Cliff  St.  1845. 

The  Church  of  the  Redeemed  or  the  History  of  the  Mediatorial 
Kingdom,  containing  the  First  Five  Periods:  From  the  Fall  of 
Adam  in  Paradise  to  the  Rejection  of  the  Jews  and  the  Calling  of 
the  Gentiles,  bv  the  Rev.  Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
Historiographer  of  the  Church.  Author  of  an  Introduction  to  the 
History  of  the  Church,  a  Harmony  of  the  Four  Gospels  now  First 
Arranged  in  the  Order  of  Time,  Two  Discourses  on  Prophecy, 
with  an  appendix,  etc.  Edition  recommended  by  the  General  Con- 
ventions of  1847  and  1850. 

Journals  of  the  Gexeral  Co.vvention 

1820;  1823;  1835;  1838;  1841;  1847;  1853;  1859;  1868; 
1871;  1874;  1877;  1880;  1883;  1886;  1889;  1892;  1895; 
1898;   1901;    1904;    1907;    1910. 

Journals  of  New  Jersey 

Journals  of  the  Conventions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  1785-1816.  Reprinted  1890.  New 
York:  John  Polhemus,  Printer  and  Mfg.  Stationer,  102  Nassau 
Street. 

Knox,  Vicesimus 

Elegant  Extracts,  or  Useful  and  Entertaining  Pieces  of  Poetry,  se- 
lected for  the  Improvement  of  Youth  in  Speaking  Reading,  Think- 
ing, Composing ;  and  in  the  Conduct  of  Life ;  being  similar  in  design 
to  Elegant  Extracts  in  Prose. 

[  365  2 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Knox,  Vicesimus  (continued) 

"  JVhile  iome  on  earnest  business  bent 
Their  murmuring  Labours  ph."  Gray. 

London:  Printed  for  Charles  Dilly,  Poultry.  (1792.) 

Lamb  and  Harrison 

History  of  the  City  of  New  York:  Its  Origin,  Rise,  and  Progress, 
by  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb  and  Mrs.  Burton  Harrison.  Illustrated. 
In  three  \  olumes.  New  York  :  The  A.  S.  Barnes  Company. 

Lincoln,  Solomon 

An  Address  delivered  before  the  Citizens  of  the  Town  of  Hingham 
on  the  Twenty-eighth  of  September,  1835,  being  the  Two  Hun- 
dredth Anniversary  of  the  Town,  by  Solomon  Lincoln.  Hingham  : 
Jedidiah  Farmer.  1835. 

Lowndes,  ARXHtiR 

A  Century  of  Achievement.  The  History  of  the  New  York  Bible  and 
Common  Prayer  Book  Society  for  One  Hundred  Years.  Bv  Arthur 
Lowndes,  D.D.  Two  volumes.  Edwin  S.  Gorham  :  New  York. 

The  Church  Eclectic:  a  Monthly  Magazine,  the  Re\'.  Arthur 
Lowndes,  D.D.,  Editor.  Volume  xxxiii.  October,  1903,  to  March, 
1904.  New  York:  Edwin  S.  Gorham,  Publisher. 

McMaster,  John  Bach 

A  History  of  the  People  of  the  United  States,  from  the  Revolu- 
tion to  the  Civil  War,  by  John  Bach  McMaster.  In  five  \olumes. 
New  York :  D.  Appleton  and  Company,  1,  3,  and  5  Bond  Street. 
1884-88. 

McVicKAR,  John 

The  Early  Life  and  Professional  Years  of  Bishop  Hobart,  bv  John 
McVickar,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophv 
and  Political  Economy  in  Columbia  College,  New-York,  ^^^ith  a 
Preface  containing  a  History  of  the  Church  in  America,  by  Wal- 
ter Farquhar  Hook,  D.D. ,  Vicar  of  Leeds,  Prebendar_y  of  Lincoln, 
and  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  the  Queen.  Oxford :  D.A.  Talbovs, 
and  113,  Fleet  Street,  London,  mdcccxxxviii. 

Perrv,  William  Stevens 

Historical  Collections  relating  to  the  American  Colonial  Church, 
C   366  ] 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Perry,  William  Stevexs  (coxtixued) 

edited  by  ^^'illiam  Stevens  Perry,  D.D.  Printed  for  the  Subscrib- 
ers. MDCccLxx.  (\dume  i  is  on  Mrginia;  ii  on  Pennsylvania;  iii  on 
Massachusetts;  i\-  on  Maryland;  v  on  Delaware.) 

The  History  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  1587-1883,  by 
William  Stevens  Perry,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Iowa.  Volume  i, 
The  Planting  and  Grow  th  of  the  American  Colonial  Church,  1587- 
1783.  Volume  ii.  The  Organization  and  Progress  of  the  American 
Church,  1783-1883,  projected  by  Clarence  F.  Jewett.  Boston: 
James  R.  Osgood  &  Company,  1885,  volume  i,  pp.  xx,  665  ;  vol- 
ume ii,  pp.  xiii,  696.  wdccclxx-mdccclxxviii. 

Journals  of  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  in  the  United  States,  published  by  authority  of  General 
Convention,  edited  by  William  Stevens  Perrv,  D.D.  \  olume  iii. 
Historical  Notes  and  Documents.  Claremont,  New  Hampshire :  The 
Claremont  Manufacturing  Company.  1874.  Sub-title:  "Historical 
Notes  and  Documents  illustrating  the  Organization  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  in  the  United  States  of  America,  by  William 
Stevens  PeiTy,  D.D.,  Historiographer  of  the  American  Church. 
Claremont,  New  Hampshire  :  The  Claremont  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. 1874." 

Pratt,  Matthew 

Recollections.  Manuscript.  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  SociETi' 

Collections  of  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Society,  for  the 
Year  1851.  Published  by  Order  of  The  Executi^■e  Committee  of  the 
Society.  New  York  :  Stanford  &:  Swords,  Publishers.  1851. 

RiDGELv,  Helen  W^. 

Historic  Graves  of  Maryland  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  \yith 
the  Inscriptions  appearing  on  the  Tombstones  in  most  of  the  Coun- 
ties of  the  State  and  in  Washington  and  Georgetow  n.  Edited  under 
the  Auspices  of  the  Maryland  Society  of  the  Colonial  Dames  of 
America,  by  Helen  W.  Ridgely,  Author  of  "The  Old  Brick 
Churches  of  Maryland."  New  York:  The  Grafton  Press,  Pub- 
lishers. 

:  367 : 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

SCHROEDER,  J.    F. 

Memorial  of  Bishop  Hobart.  A  Collection  of  Sermons  on  the  Death 
of  the  Right  Reverend  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the 
Protestant  EjMscopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New- York :  with  a 
Memoir  of  his  Life  and  Writings.  Pro  Ecclesia  Dei.  New-York: 
Published  by  T.  &.  J.  Swords,  mdcccxxxi. 

Sprague,  William  B. 

Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit ;  or  Commemorative  Notices  of  Dis- 
tinguished American  Clergymen  of  Various  Denominations,  from 
the  Early  Settlement  of  the  Country  to  the  Close  of  the  Year  Eighteen 
Hundred  and  Fifty-Five,  with  Historical  Introductions,  bv  Wil- 
liam B.  Sprague,  D.D.  Nine  volumes.  New  York:  Robert  Carter 
&:  Brothers,  530  Broadway.  1859-61. 

Turner,  O. 

Pioneer  History  of  the  Holland  Purchase  of  Western  New  York : 
Embracing  Some  Account  of  the  Ancient  Remains ;  a  Brief  His- 
tory of  our  Immediate  Predecessors,  the  Confederated  Iroquois, 
their  System  of  Government,  Wars,  etc.;  a  Synopsis  of  Colonial 
History  :  Some  Notices  of  the  Border  Wars  of  the  Revolution  :  and 
a  History  of  Pioneer  Settlement  under  the  Auspices  of  the  Holland 
Company  ;  Including  Reminiscences  of  the  War  of  1812  ;  the  Ori- 
gin, Progress  and  Completion  of  the  Erie  Canal,  etc.,  etc.,  etc., 
by  O.  Turner.  Buffalo :  Published  by  Jewett,  Thomas  &.  Co. :  Geo. 
H.  Derby  &:Co.  1849. 

Tyler,  Samuel 

Memoir  of  Roger  Brooke  Taney,  LL.D.,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  United  States,  by  Samuel  Tyler,  LL.D.,  of 
the  Maryland  Bar. 

^ui  nihil  in  vita  nisi  laudandum,  aut  fecit.,  aut  dixit.,  aut  sensit. 

Baltimore:  Published  by  John  Murphy  &  Co.,  182  Baltimore 
Street.  1872. 

United  States  Gazette 

April  17,  1838,  and  April  18,  1838. 

Van  Re.vsselaer,  Sarah 

Ancestral  Sketches  and  Records  of  Olden  Times.  "Tout  Lasse, 

C   368   ■] 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Van  Rensselaer,  Sarah  (continued) 

—  Tout  Passe!  "  Ancien  Pro\erbe.  For  Private  Circulation  only. 
New  York:  Anson  D.  F.  Randolph  &  Compan}-.  1882. 

Watson,  John  F. 

Annals  of  Philadelphia  and  Pennsylvania,  in  the  olden  time ;  be- 
ing a  collection  of  Memoirs,  Anecdotes,  and  Incidents  of  the  Citv 
and  its  Inhabitants,  and  of  the  Earliest  Settlements  of  the  Inland 
Part  of  Pennsylvania  ;  intended  to  preserve  the  recollections  of  olden 
time,  and  to  exhibit  societ}'  in  its  changes  of  manners  and  customs, 
and  the  city  and  countrj"  in  their  local  changes  and  improvements. 
By  John  F.  Watson,  Member  of  the  Historical  Societies  of  Penn- 
sylvania, New  York,  and  Massachusetts.  Enlarged,  with  many 
Revisions  and  Additions,  by  Willis  P.  Hazard.  Profusely  illus- 
trated. In  three  volumes. 

'■'•Oh!  dear  is  a  tale  of  the  olden  time!" 
Sequari  vestigia  rerum. 

"  Where  peep'd  the  hut,  the  palace  toivers; 
JVhere  skimrnd  the  bark,  the  war-ship  louvers; 
"Joy  gaily  carols  where  was  silence  rude. 
And  cultured  thousands  throng  the  solitude." 

Philadelphia;  Edwin  S.  Stuart,  9  South  Ninth  Street.  1887. 

Whtitaker,  Epher 

History  of  Southold :  Its  First  Century,  by  the  Rev.  Epher  Whitta- 
ker.  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Southold,  Councillor  of  the  Long 
Island  Historical  Society,  etc.  Southold :  Printed  for  the  Author 
in  1881. 

Williams,  Samuel 

Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy :  to  the  End  of  the  Year 
MDCcLxxxiii.  Volume  i.  Observations  and  Conjectures  upon  the 
Earthquakes  of  New  England,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Williams, 
D.D.,  Hollis  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Philosophy  in  the 
University  of  Cambridge. 

Wilson,  Bird 

Memoir  of  the  Life  of  the  Right  Reverend  William  White,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  Penn- 


BOOKS  REFERRED  TO 

Wilson,  Bird  (continued) 

sylvania,  by  Bird  W'ilson,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Systematick  Di\  iii- 
ity  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary.  Philadelphia  :  James  Kav, 
Jun.  &.  Brother,  122  Chestnut  Street.  Pittsburgh  :  C.  H.  Kay  &. 
Co.  1839. 

^^^ILSON,  RuFus  Rockwell 

New  York:  Old  &  New.  Its  Story,  Streets,  and  Landmarks,  by 
Rufus  Rockwell  Wilson,  Author  of  "Washington:  the  Capital 
City,"  "Rambles  in  Colonial  Byways,"  etc.  With  many  Illus- 
trations from  Prints  and  Photographs,  and  with  Decorations  by 
Edward  Stratton  Holloway.  Two  volumes.  Philadelphia  &.  London : 
J.  B.  Lippincott  Company.  1903. 

Wilson,  James  Grant 

The  Centennial  History  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
Diocese  of  New  York,  1785-1885,  edited  by  James  Grant  Wilson. 
New  York:  D.  Appleton  and  Company.  1886. 


C   370   J 


INDEX 


Abeel,  John   Neilson,  Letter  from 

and  sketch  of,  232. 
Abingdon,   Cokesbury    College    at, 

168. 
Adams,   Mrs.,  289. 
Adams,  John,  Defence  of  the  Con- 
stitution, etc.,  by,  256. 
Adams,  William,  Ixxvi,  Ixxvii. 
Addison,  Joseph,  152. 
Address,  from  Convention  of  Mary- 
land to  Vestries,  in  1794,  xviii. 
to  the  Convention,  by  Bishop  Mad- 
ison, xviii. 
by  Hobart  at  the  funeral  of  Bishop 

Moore,  1 8 1 6,  cxxix,  ccvi. 
before  the   Auxiliary  New  York 
Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book 
Society,  1816,  ccvi. 
to    Episcopalians,    1816,  cxxvii, 

ccvi. 
before  the  New  York  Protestant 
Episcopal    Missionary   Society 
of  Young  Men,  1 8 1 7,  ccvi. 
from  a  Committee  ordered  by  the 
Convention    of    Maryland    of 
1817,  xviii. 
to   the    New  York    Convention, 

1821,  1822,  1823,  ccvii. 
Introdu£tory,  on  the  opening  of 
the  General  Theological  Semi- 
nary, 1822,  ccvii. 
before  the    New  York  Conven- 
tion, by  Hobart,  1827,  ccviii. 
to  the  Students  of  the  Seminary, 

1828,  ccviii. 
before  the  Citizens  of  the  Town 
of  Hingham,  1835,  c. 


Affairs  in  Europe,  Condition  of,  in 
the  Summer  of  I  794,  72. 

Agnew,  Daniel,  50,  331. 

Agnew,  James,  203,  326. 

Agnew,  Martin,  326. 

Agnew,  William,  326. 

Ainsworth,  Robert,  260. 

Albany  Centinel,  cxcii. 

Alexander,  John  H.,  li. 

Alexander,  Joseph  McKnitt,  Letter 
from  and  sketch  of,  23. 

All  Souls'  College,  Oxford,  Ixvi. 

Allen,  Ethan,  Ixxv. 

Allison,  David  Prescott,  Ixxxvi. 

Allison,  Francis,  168. 

Altar,  The,  edited  by  Hobart,  cxcii. 

American  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  Boston,  Hi. 

American  Antiquarian  Society  of 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  lii. 

American  Church  History,  by  Joseph 
Hooper,  Ixvi. 

American  Colonial  Church,  Histori- 
cal Colleftions  relating  to,  Ixv, 
Ixvi. 

American  Episcopate,  Efforts  to  ob- 
tain the,  Ixvi. 

American  Philosophical  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  lii. 

Ames,  Fisher,  211. 

Andrews,  Bishop,  Litany  by,  cxlix. 

Andrews,  John,  civ. 

Anglican  Episcopate  and  the  Amer- 
ican Colonies,  by  Arthur  Lyon 
Cross,  Ixvi. 

Annotations,  Alphabetical    List  of, 
355- 
371    ] 


INDEX 


Apology  for  Apostolic  Order,  cxciii, 
ccv. 

Apology  for  Primitive  Order,  clxi. 

Appendix  to  Journal,  1853,  lii. 

Appendix  to  Journal,  1907,  lii. 

Archer,  Mrs.,  15. 

Archives,  Commission  on,  appointed 
1892,  Ixxviii. 
Report  of,  Ixxxiv. 
Members  of,  xcii. 

Armatt,  Thomas  A.,  16. 

Ascension,  Church  of  the:  a  mem- 
ber makes  donation  towards  ex- 
penses of  Dr.  Hawks,  xxxvii. 

Auchmuty,  Robert,  8. 

Auchmuty,  Samuel,  Letter  to  John 
Winthrop  from,  5. 
Sketch  of,  3. 

Auer,  Bishop,  Ixxxix. 

Auxiliary  New  York  Bible  and  Com- 
mon Prayer  Book  Society,  cxxvii, 
cxc. 

Axtell,  Henry,  Jr.,  Sketch  of,  and 
letters  from,  237,  305. 


Bailey,  Albert  H.,  Memorial  of, 
Ixiii. 

Baker,  Alfred  Brittin,  appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1892,  Ixxix,  xcii. 

Baldwin,  Abraham,  igi. 

Baldwin,  Henry  P.,  Ixxiii. 

Banner  of  the  Church,  xxiii. 

Barclay,  Henry,  7. 

Barker,  William  Morris,  Sermon  at 
Consecration  of,  Ixxxiii. 

Barton,  Mrs.  William,  345. 

Bartlett,  William  I.,  Ixx. 

Bartow,  Thomas,  40. 


Baxter,  Richard,  clxxix. 
Baylies,  Mrs.  N.  E.,  Ixxxix. 
Beach,  Abraham,  cxiv. 
Beardsley,  Eben  Edwards,  Ixii. 
appointed    member   of   Commis- 
sion on  Church  Archives,  1868, 
Ixiv,  xci. 
Beasley,  Frederic,  cxc,  cxcii. 
Bend,  Joseph  Grove  John,  168. 
Beneficial  Effects  of  Sunday  Schools 

considered  by  Hobart,  ccvi. 
Berrian,  William,  Memoirs  of,  cviii, 
ex,  cxii,  cxxiii,  cxxix,   cxxxi, 
cxxxvii,  cxl,  cxlii. 
Sermon  by,  on  Hobart,  clviii;  on 
Mrs.  Hobart,  clxxxv. 
Bibb,  George,  31. 
Bibliography  of  Hobart'sWorks,ccv. 
Biddle,  Elizabeth  Rebecca,  ccii. 
Biddle,  Sarah  F.,  Ixi. 
Bissell,  William    Henry  Augustus, 

Ixxx,  Ixxxi. 
Blair's,  Mr.,  mission  to  North  Caro- 
lina, 1703,  li. 
Bliss,   George   Yemens,    appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1907,  Ixxxiii,  xcii. 
Bloomfield,  Charles  James,  Bishop 

of  London,  xxxi,  xliii. 
Bodleian  Library,  Oxford,  Ixxii. 
Bolton,  Robert,  Jr.,  li. 
Bolton,  Robert,  liii. 
Boucher,  Jonathan,  xiii. 
Boyd,  George,  xiv,  xv. 
Boynton,  Peter,  ciii. 
Bradford,  Samuel  F.,  xiii. 
Bray,  Manuscripts  of  Dr.,  xxxi. 
Breck,  James  Lloyd,  Ixxvii. 
Brewster,  Benjamin,  Ixxxvi. 

C  372  J 


INDEX 

Briggs,  J.,  315. 

Brissot,  Jean  Pierre,  212. 

Bronson,  Tillotson,  cxci. 

Bronson,  William  White,  Ixi. 

Brown,  Thomas,  33. 

Brownell,    Thomas    Church,   xvii, 

xlix,  1,  cxci. 
Bullock,  Joseph,  ciii. 
Burgess,  George,  liii,  liv,  Ixii,  Ixiii, 

Ixiv,  Ixviii,  Ixx,  Ixxi. 
Burke,  Edmund,  212. 
Burlington,  New  Jersey,  History  of 

the  Church  in,  by  George  Morgan 

Hills,  Ixxiv.  [152. 

Burnet,  George  Whitefield,  22, 142, 
Burnet,  Jacob,  21,  142. 
Burnett,  Bishop,  Pastoral  Care  by, 

cxciii. 
Burnett,  Eliezer,  170. 
Byles,  Mather,  ci. 


i-^ALDWELL,  Joseph,  cxii,  99,  169, 

203,  329. 
Candidate      for    Confirmation     In- 

strudted,  The,  by  Hobart,  cxciii, 

ccvi. 
Canon  on  duties  of  Registrar,  lii. 
Canons  and   Constitution  of  New 

Jersey,  printed  in  1 8 1 1 ,  obtained, 

xvii. 
Canons  of  the  General  Convention 

to  1804,  and  to  1808,  obtained, 

Ixxxvi. 
Canterbury,    Archbishop    of,    Fre- 
quent Correspondencewith,xx. 

Letter  to  Dr.  Hawks  from,xxxix. 

Letter  from  Dr.  Hawks  to,  xl. 

Letter  of  Bishop  White  to,  xxvii. 
Capture  of  American  Vessels,  58. 

C   373   J 


Capture  of  American  Vessels  by  the 

French,  254. 
Carey,  Henry  Clarke,  1 1 8. 
Carey,  Matthew,  1 1  7. 
Catholic    Revival,    anticipated     by 

Hobart,  clxxxvii. 
Century  of  Achievement :  The  His- 
tory of  the  New  York  Bible  and 
Common  Prayer  Book  Society  for 
One   Hundred  Years,  by  Arthur 
Lowndes,  xliii. 
Centennial  History  of  the  Diocese 
of  New  York,  by  James  Grant 
Wilson,  clxxxiv. 
Chambers,    Ephraim,    Cyclopaedia 

by,  xiii. 
Chandler,  Elizabeth,  cc. 
Chandler,  Mary  Goodin,  cc,  313. 
Marriage  of  Hobart  to,  cxvii. 
Letter  from  Henry  Gahn  to,  309. 
Chandler,   Thomas    Bradbury,   xii, 
cxvii,  cc. 
Life  of  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  by, 
xii,  cxciii. 
Charge  of  Bishop  Brownell,  1821, 

xvii. 
Charge  of  the  Bishop  of  New  Jer- 
sey, 1 8 19,  xviii. 
Charge  to  the  Convention  of  1815, 

ccvi. 
Charity  School,  the  New  York  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Public  School, 
cxxxiii. 
called  Trinity  School,  cxc. 
Charleston  Gospel  Messenger,  xxiii, 

xxxiii. 
Charlotte  Hall,  229. 
Charlton,  John,  cxvii,  cxviii. 
Chase,  Carlton,  xlix. 


INDEX 


Chase,  Samuel,  Ixviii. 

Chesapeake  Fleet,  The,  65. 

Cheslevs,  The,  240. 

Chestnut,  James,  25. 

Chetwood,  William,  142. 

Chew,  Parson,  224. 

Christian  Bishop, The:  A  Sermon  by 

Hobart,  i827,ccviii. 
Christian  Journal,  The,  xxiii,  cxci. 
Christian  Manual  of  Faith  and  De- 
votion, The,  clxi,  cxciii,  ccv. 
Christian  Sympathy, The :  A  Sermon, 

i825,ccviii. 
Christian  Witness,  The,  xxxiii. 
Chronicle  of  the  Church,  xxxiii. 
Chronological  Catalogue  of  Ordina- 
tions, Ixiv. 
Church  Archives,  Commission  on, 
appointed,  Ixiv. 

Report  of,  Ixvii. 

Special  Report  of,  Ixxv. 

Members  of,  xci. 
Church  Congress,  Reports  of,  1882, 

1888,  obtained,  Ixxxvii. 
Church   Ecleftic   for   April,   1903, 

Ixvi. 
Church  Register,  xxiii. 
Churchman,  Letter  from  A,  cxxvii. 
Churchman:      Principles      of     the 

Churchman  stated  and  explained 

by  Hobart,  18 19,  ccvii. 
Churchman,  The,  xxiii,  xxxiii. 
Churchman's  Almanac,  cxcii. 
Churchman's    Companion    for    the 

Closet,  cxciii. 
Churchman's  Magazine, xi,xii,  xxiii, 

clxxxix,  cxci. 
Churchman's  Monthly  Magazine,  xi. 
Claggett,  Bishop,  cxxiii. 


Claggett,  Bishop,  Daughters  of,  225. 
and  the  Maryland  Assembly,  336. 

Claggett,  Elizabeth  Laura,  225. 

Claggett,  Mary  Anne,  225. 

Claggett,  Priscilla  Elizabeth,  225. 

Claggett,  Thomas,  223. 

Clairfait,  General,  72. 

Claremont,  New  Hampshire  (Prayer 
Bookj,  Ixxxix. 

Clark,  Marianna,  cci. 

Clarke,  C.  P.,  xlix. 

Clarke,  James  W.,  218. 

Clarke,  Samuel,  Prayer  Book  by,  xc. 

Claypoole,  David  C,  16. 

Clemson,  John  B.,  Ixiv. 

Clergyman's  Companion,  1855,  xc, 
clxi,  cxcii,  ccv. 

Clergyman's  Vade  Mecum^  cxciii. 

Cobbett,  William,  157,  265. 

Cobbs,  Nicholas  H.,  Ixviii. 

Coit,  Thomas  Winthrop,  1,  Ixv. 
appointed  member    of   Commis- 
sion on  Church  Archives,  1868, 
Ixiv,  xci. 

Coke,  Thomas,   Letter   to  Bishop 
White  from,  Iviii. 
Note  on,  329. 

Coleman, Leighton,  appointed  mem- 
ber of  Commission  on  Archives, 
1892,  Ixxxi,  xcii. 

Colleftion  of  Essays  on  the  Subje£t 
of  Episcopacy,  1806,  cxcii,  ccv. 

Collections  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Society,  i85i,lxvi. 

Collecftor  and  Conservator  of  Books, 
Manuscripts,  etc.,  recommended 
to  be  appointed,  xxi. 

College  of  New  Jersey,  cvii. 

College  of  William  and  Mary,  cxxiii. 


C   374   J 


INDEX 


Columbia  College,  cxxxi. 
Comber,  Dean,  cxcii. 
Commentary  on  the  Bible,  clxi. 
Commission  on  Archives,  Members 
of,  May,  1 9 1 1 ,  V. 
Sub-Committee   of,    on   publica- 
tion, V. 
Committee  of  General  Convention, 
report  on  procuring  documents, 
1823,  XV. 
recommend  change   of  name  to 

Registrar,  1847,  "'v- 
on    Hawks   MSS.  and   volumes, 

report  of,  1868,  Iviii. 
report     on    receipt     of     Bishop 

White's  Papers,  1868,  Ixi. 
recommend   a   permanent    Com- 
mission on  Archives,  i868,lxiv. 
Companion  for  the  Altar,  A,  1804, 

cxx,  cxcii,  ccv. 
Companion  to  the  Book  of  Common 

Prayer,  cxcii,  ccv. 
Companion    to    the    Festivals    and 

Fasts,  cxcii,  ccv. 
Condition   of  Affairs  in   Europe  in 

the  Summer  of  1794,  72. 
Confederate  States,  Journals  of  the 
General    Council    of,    obtained, 
Ixxxvii. 
Connecticut,     Charge     of     Bishop 
Brownell  of,  1821,  xvii. 
Constitution  of,  printed  in  1821, 

obtained,  xvii. 
Convocation  of  Clergy  of,  1824, 

cxci. 
Diocese  of,  placed  under  charge 

of  Hobart,  cxxix,  clxxxiv. 
Documentary  History  of,  Ixxxvii. 
History  of,  xlviii. 


Connedlicut,  Journals  before  1802, 
and    from   1804    to   1807  and 
1822,  not  obtained,  xviii. 
Journals  for  1 802-1803  and  1808 

to  1 82 1  obtained,  xvii. 
Journals  of  1 8 1 3- 1 8 1 6  obtained, 

Ixxxvii. 
Journal  of  1829  obtained,  Ixxxvi. 

Consecration  of  Bishops,  Register 
of,  ordered,  xlv,  Ixxiv. 

Conservator,  Duties  of,  xxvi. 

Conservator,  Report  of,  xxxiii. 

Constitution  and  Canons  of  Mary- 
land, printed  in  1802,  obtained, 
xviii. 

Constitution  and  Canons  of  New 
York,  printed  in  18 1  2,  obtained, 
xvii. 

Constitution  and  Canons  of  Penn- 
sylvania, printed  in  1822,  ob- 
tained, xviii. 

Continental  Union,  Success  in  form- 
ing a,  Iv. 

Cook,  Arthur  Byron,  cciii. 

Cook,  Mary  Amory,  cciii. 

Corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rome 
contrasted  with  certain  Protestant 
Errors,  i8i8,by  Hobart,  ccvii. 

Cosin,  Bishop,  cxcii. 

Cox,  Mr.,  69. 

Coxe,  Arthur  Cleveland,  xlix,  Ixii, 
clii,  clxxxii,  clxxxiv. 

Coxe,  William,  no. 

Croes,  Helen  Robertson,  52. 

Croes,  John,  cxxxvii. 

Cross,  Arthur  Lyon,  Anglican  Epis- 
copate and  American  Colonies, 
by,  Ixvi. 

Cruiser,  Mr.,  27. 


C   375  ] 


INDEX 


Cuming,  Francis  H.,  cli. 
Currie,  Mr.,  156. 
Curtis,  F.  Kingsbury,  cciii. 
Curtis,  Marion,  cciii. 
Custodian  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  Report,  1910,  Ixxxviii. 

Dalcho,  Frederick,  An  Historical 
Account  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  South  Carolina, 
by,  xiii. 

Dale  Forge,  318. 

Daniel,  Evan,  on  the  Prayer  Book, 
Ixxxix. 

Date  of  Hobart's  Letter  to  his 
Mother,  12.  [cxcii. 

D'Aubeny's  Guide  to  the  Church, 

Dauphin,  The,  cxliii. 

Davis,  Henry  Lyon,  228. 

Dayton,  Elias,  311. 

Dayton,  Jonathan,  335. 

Dayton,  Mary,  312. 

Dayton,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  313. 

Deacons,  List  by  Bishop  Burgess, 
liii,  Ixii,  Ixiii,  Ixx,  Ixxi. 

Death  of  a  Room-mate,  25. 

Debates  in  Congress,  1795,  1796, 
179. 

De  Costa,  Benjamin,  White's  Me- 
moirs edited  by,  xiii. 

Defeat  of  a  French  Fleet,  65. 

Defence  of  the  Association,  A, 
cxliv. 

DeLancey  Divinity  School,  Ixxxviii. 

DeLancey,  William  Heathcote, 
xlviii,  xlix. 

Delaware  Journals  of  1 79 1  to  1 794, 
1798  to  1800,  1810,  1818,  and 
1 82 1  obtained,  xviii. 


Delaware  Journals  of  1795  to  1797, 
1 80 1  to  1809,  181 1  to  1817, 
1819,  1820,  1822,  not  obtained, 
xix. 

Dent,  Hatch,  228. 

Departed  Friends,  by  William  Ber- 
rian,  clxxxvii. 

Detroit,  Hobart's  visit  to,  cxliii. 

Devotion,  Office  of,  for  Sunday 
Schools,  by  Hobart  and  B.  T. 
Onderdonk,  1846,  xc. 

Devotional  Services  for  Public  Wor- 
ship, by  Reuen  Thomas,  xc. 

Denison,  Mr.,  167. 

Dickson,  John  M.,  109. 

Digges,  Mrs.,  225. 

Disorder  in  Philadelphia,  288. 

Ditmars,  Dow,  50,  69. 

Dix,  Morgan,  Ixxix,  Ixxxii. 
on  the  Prayer  Book,  Ixxxix. 
History  of  Trinity  Church,  New 
York,  by,  xliii,  clxxvi,  clxxxvii, 
cxcv,  cxcix,  ccix. 

Doane,  George  Washington,  xxxi, 
xlv,  xlix. 

Doane,WilIiamCroswel],  appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1892,  Ixxix,  xcii. 

Documentary  History  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church,  Iv. 

Documents,    copied   by   Alexander 
Murray,  xvi. 
Conservator  of,  appointed,  xlvi. 
Expense  of  obtaining,  xlvii. 
from  England,  xlvii. 
not  obtained  in  1821,  xviii. 
of  Benjamin  Dorr,  Ixviii. 
of  Bishop  Burgess,  Ixviii. 
of  early  consecrations,  xlvii. 


C  376  3 


INDEX 


Documents,  Original,  published  in 
Churchman's   Monthly  Maga- 
zine, xi. 
White's  List  of,  xvi. 
Donation    from    Edmund    Farwell 
Slafter  of  Historical  Pamphlets, 
Ixxxiii. 
from   gentleman    in   New  York, 

xlvii. 
from  gentleman  of  Church  of  the 

Ascension,  xxxvii. 
from  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 

xxvii,  xxxvi,  xlvii. 
from   William   Lloyd   Himes,  of 
List  of  Ministers,  Ixxxiii. 
Dorr,    Benjamin,    Documents    of, 

Ixviii. 
D'Oyley  and  Mant's  Family  Bible, 

clxxiv,  cxciii,  ccvii. 
Dunlap,  John,  i6. 
Dunwoody's  Tavern,  304. 
Duty  of  the  Clergy  with  Respedt  to 
the  DoiStrine  of  the  Trinity,  by 
Hobart,  1829,  ccix. 


tiARLY,  Peter,  32. 

Earthquake  of  July,  1757,  9. 

Eastburn,  Manton,  xlix. 

Eastern  Diocese,  All  Journals  of,  not 
obtained,  xviii. 

Edson,  Theodore,  1. 

Efforts  to  obtain  the  Episcopate  be- 
fore the  Revolution,  Ixvi. 

Elegant  Extrads,  1 6. 

Ellice,  Sir  Henry,  xxx. 

Elliott,  Stephen,  liv. 

Ellis,  Sir  Henry,  xxxv. 

Elmendorf,  Edmund,  328. 

Emott,  Elizabeth,  cc. 

C   377  ] 


English,  Charles  Greene,  161. 
English,    Cornelia     Washington, 

162. 
English,  David,  Sketch  of,  161. 

Letters  from,  163,  199,222,327, 

332- 

English,  Elizabeth  A.  Beall,  161. 
English,  Jane  Threlkeld,  161. 
English,  John,  161. 
English,  Jonathan,  161. 
English,  Lydia,  161,  163. 
English,    Lydia     Ridgely     (Perry), 

162. 
English,  Lydia  Scudder,  161,  329. 
English,  Martha,  161. 
English,  Martha  Elizabeth,  161. 
English,  Robert  Magruder,  162. 
English,  Sarah  Threlkeld,  161. 
English,  Thomas  B.,  161. 
Episcopal  Magazine,  xxiii. 
Episcopal  Recorder,  xxiii,  xxxiii. 
Episcopal  Watchman,  xxiii. 
Essex  Street  Chapel,  London,  Prayer 

Book  of,  Ixxxix. 
Everett,  Nicholas  C,  338. 
Excellenceof  the  Church,  by  Hobart, 

ccv. 


Faesh,  Mr.,  312. 

Fashionable  Infidelity,  107. 

Festivals  and  Fasts,editedbv  Hobart, 
clxi. 

Findley,  Robert,  97,  338. 

Fish,  Hamilton,  appointed  member 
of  Commission  on  Church  Ar- 
chives, 1868,  Ixiv,  xci. 

Fly  Market,  The,  40. 

Fogg,  Daniel,  Ixxxii. 


INDEX 


Former  tutor,  136. 

Forsvth,  Robert  Marshall,  93,  99 

131,288. 
Fowler,     Andrew,     Colledion     of, 

Ixxxvii. 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  secretary  of 
committee,  1,  38. 

Freeman,  James  Edward,  Ixxxv. 

Funeral  Address,  on  Bishop  Ben- 
jamin Moore,  by  Hobart,  ccvi. 

Gadsden,    Christopher     Edwards, 

clxxi. 
Gahn,    Henry,    Letter     from     and 

sketch  of,  309. 
Gambler  Observer,  xxiii,  xxxili. 
Gardiner,  Asa  Bird,  appointed  mem- 
ber of  Commission  on  Archives 

1892,  Ixxix,  xcii. 
Gardiner,  Captain,  cxxxiv. 
Gaston,  William,  137. 
G'debo  dialect  of  the  Kru  language, 

Prayer  Book  in,  Ixxxix. 
General  Convention,  1785,  xvi. 

181 1  (Special),  cxxiii. 

1814, cxxv. 

1817,  cxxix. 

1820,  XV,  cxxix. 

1 82 1  (Special),  cxxx. 

1826,  cxl. 

1829,  cxl. 

1835,  XX. 

1838,  xxxii. 
1841,  xliv. 
1844,  xlv. 
1847,  ^Ivi. 
1850,11. 
1853,  lii. 
1859,1111. 

C  378   J 


i,  Ivii. 


General  Convention,  il 
1871,  Ixvii. 
1874,  Ixxiii. 
1877,  Ixxiii. 
1880,  Ixxv. 
i883,lxxvi. 
1886,  Ixxvi. 
1889,  Ixxvli. 
1892,  Ixxviii. 
1895,  Ixxix. 
1898,  Ixxxi. 
1901,  Ixxxii. 
1904,  Ixxxiii. 
1907,  Ixxxiii. 
1910,  Ixxxiv. 

Canons  of,  to  1 804  and  i  808,  ob- 
tained, Ixxxvi. 
Committee     for    colleding     the 

Journals  of,  xv. 
Journal  of  1821  obtained,  xvii. 
Journal  of  1829  obtained,  Ixxxvi. 
Journals  for  181  7,  1820,  not  ob- 
tained, xviii. 

Journalsof  the,from  i  785  to  1814, 
obtained,  xvii. 
1817,  xviii. 

1820,  xiv,  xviii. 

1821,  xvii. 
1823,  xiv,  xix. 
1835,  XXV,  xxvi,  xlviii. 
1838,  xliii. 
1 84 1,  xiv. 
1847,  ^^^'U  xlix. 
1853, 
1859, 

1868,  lix,  Ixi-lxvi. 
1871,  Ixvii,  Ixx,  Ixxiii. 
1874,  Ixxiii. 


INDEX 


General  Convention,  Journals  of  the, 

1877,  Ixxiv. 

1880,  ixxv. 

1883,  Ixxvi. 

1886,  Ixxvi. 

i88g,  Ixxvii. 

1892,  Ixxviii,  Ixxix. 

1895,  Ixxix. 

1898,  Ixxxi,  Ixxxii. 

1901,  Ixxxii. 

1904,  Ixxxiii. 

1907,  Hi. 

1910,  Ixxxiv,  Ixxxv,  Ixxxviii, 
xci. 
CoUedtion  of,  xv-xix. 
Files  of,  ordered  to  be  completed, 

Ivii. 
Reprint  of,  by  Hawks  and  Perry, 

1785  to  1853,  ''^;  1785  'o 

1808,  liv. 
Sermons,  All,  before  the,  not  ob- 
tained, xviii. 
Sermons  before  1808,1811,1814, 
obtained,  Ixxxvii. 
General  Theological  Seminary, The, 
proposed  in  1814,  cxxv. 
established    in    18 1 7,  opened    in 
1 8ig, proposed  to  be  removed 
to  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
in  1820,  cxxix. 
Library  of,  xxii,  xxvi,  xlv,  xlviii. 
Trustees  of  the,   to    have   tem- 
porary care   of   the  Archives, 
xxvi. 
Geneva  Branch  School,  "The  Inte- 
rior School,"  cxxx. 
Georgia,  All   Journals  of,  not  ob- 
tained, xix. 
Gibson,  Frederick,  appointed  mem- 


c 


ber  of  Commission  on  Archives, 
1892,  Ixxix,  xcii. 

Gibson,  John,  30. 

Gilbert,  Mahlon  Norris,  Sermon  at 
the  consecration  of,  ixxxiii. 

Gilmore,  Robert,  201. 

Gloria  Dei  Church," Old  Swedes'," 
Philadelphia,  cii. 

Goodwin,  D.  L.  B.,  Ixviii. 

Gordon,  Mary,  ciii. 

Gospel  Advocate,  xxiii. 

Gospel   Messenger,  xxxiii. 

Account  of  Bishop  Hobart's  death 
in,  cxliv. 

Graham,  Jonathan,  48. 

Graves,  Anson  R.,  Sermon  at  con- 
secration of,  Ixxxiii. 

Green,  Ashbel,  166. 

Green,  Richard  M.,  203,  328. 

Green,  William  Mercer,  lii,  liv. 

Green  Bay,  Michigan,  cxliii. 

Greene,  Charlotte  Elizabeth,  cciii. 

Greer,  David  Hummel,  appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1 9 10,  Ixxxiv,  xcii. 

Griffin,  Edmund  D.,  clviii. 

Griswold,  Alexander  Viets,  Conse- 
cration of,  cxxiv. 

Guilloii,  H^loise  Vidtoirine,  cciv. 

Guion,  Isaac  B.,  142. 

Gurreis,  Mrs.,  17. 

Guthrie,  William,  118. 

riAiGHT,  Benjamin  Isaac,  elefted 

Registrar,  but  declines,  lii. 
Hamilton,  James,  39. 
Hare,  Alfred  Guillou,  cciv. 
Hare,  Ann  Emlen,  ccii. 
Hare,  Catherine  Elizabeth,  cci. 
379   D 


INDEX 


Hare,  Chandler,*  cciii. 

Hare,  Chandler  (born  1829),  cciii. 

Hare,  Charles  W.,cci. 

Hare,  Charles  Willing  (born  1835), 

cci. 
Hare,  Charles  Willing  (born  1862), 

cci. 
Hare,  Charlotte  Elizabeth,  cciii. 
Hare,  Charlotte  Wentworth,  cciii. 
Hare,  Christine,  cci. 
Hare,  Christine  Singer,  ccii. 
Hare,  Constance,  cciii. 
Hare,  Dennie  M.,  cciii. 
Hare,  Elizabeth,  cci. 
Hare,  Elizabeth  Catherine,  cci. 
Hare,  Elizabeth  Catherine,  cciv. 
Hare,  Elizabeth  Catherine  Hobart, 

cciv. 
Hare,  Elizabeth  Emlen,  cciii. 
Hare,  Ellen  Culberson,  cciii. 
Hare,  Emlen,  cci. 
Hare,  Emlen  Spencer,  cciv. 
Hare,  Eugene,  cci. 
Hare,  George  Emlen,  cci. 
Hare,  George  Emlen  (born    1808), 

cci. 
Hare,  George  Emlen  (born    1836), 

ccii. 
Hare,  George  Emlen  (born    i860), 

cci. 
Hare,  Gouverneur  Morris,  cciii. 
Hare,  Helen,  cci. 
Hare,  Helen  Francis,  cci. 
Hare,  H(51oise  Viftoirine,  cciv. 
Hare,  Hobart  Amory,  cciii. 
Hare,  Hobart  Emlen,  cci. 


Hare,  Howard,  cci. 

Hare,  Ida  Hobart,  cci. 

Hare,  James  Montgomery,  cciii. 

Hare,  Jeanne  P.,  cciv. 

Hare,  John  Henry  Hobart,  cci. 

Hare,  Lilibel,  cci. 

Hare,  Marianna,  cci. 

Hare,  Marion  Scott,  cciii. 

Hare,  Mary  Amory,  cciii. 

Hare,  Mary  Amory  (born    1885), 

cciii. 
Hare,  Mary  Emlen,  cciii. 
Hare,  Mary  Hobart,  cciii. 
Hare,  Mary  Meredith,  cciii. 
Hare,  Mary  Singer,  cci. 
Hare,  Meredith,  cciii. 
Hare,  Montgomery,  cciii. 
Hare,  Morin  Scott,  cciii. 
Hare,  Phyllis  Guillou,  cciv. 
Hare,  Rebecca  Clifford,  cciii. 
Hare,  Rene  GuilloA,  cciv. 
Hare,  Robert  Emott,  cciv. 
Hare,  Wentworth  Greene,  cciii. 
Hare,  William  Hobart,  cciii. 
Hare,  William  Hobart,  Jr.,  cciii. 
Hare,  William  Hobart  Clark,  cci. 
Harison,W.  H.,  xxxiv. 
Harris,  Charles  Wilson,  25. 
Harris,  Thomas  R.  or  Israel,  141. 
Hart,    Samuel,    appointed    member 
of  Commission    on    Archives, 
1895,  Ixxix,  xcii. 

appointed  Historiographer,  1898, 
Ixxxi. 

appointed  Adling  Registrar,  1901, 
Ixxxii. 


*  In  these  and  other  genealogical  tables,  wherever  the  same  name  is  given  on  the  same  page,  it 
indicates  that  two  different  persons  are  meant. 

C  380  : 


INDEX 


Hart,  Samuel,  appointed  on  Sub- 
Committee  for  Publication  of 
the  Archives,  1910,  v,  Ixxxiii. 

Report  from  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1910,  Ixxxiv. 

appointed  Registrar,  19 10, 
Ixxxiv. 

Report  from,  as  Adting  Registrar, 
1910,  Ixxxv. 

Report  from,  as  Custodian  of 
Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
1910,  Ixxxviii. 
Harvvood,  Edwin,  Ixxix,  Ixxxi. 
Hawks, Francis  Lister,  senttosearch 
Archives  at  Lambeth  and  Ful- 
ham,  and  report,  1835,  xx,  xxi. 

appointed  Conservator,  1835, 
xxvi. 

Report  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion of  1835  from,  XX. 

Report  on  his  communication  and 
Resolutions,  1835,  xxv. 

sails  for  England,  xxvii. 

Bearer  of  letter  to  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  1836,  xxvii. 

Letter  from  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  to,  1836,  xxxix. 

Letter  to  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury from,  1836,  xl. 

Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London 
from,  1836,  xli. 

Letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  So- 
ciety for  Propagating  the  Gos- 
pel in  Foreign  Parts,  1836,  xlii. 

Report  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion of  1838  from,  xxxii. 

Papers  committed  to  the  care  of, 

by  Convention  of  1838,  xliv. 

by  Convention  of  1847,  "Iviii. 


Hawks,   Francis    Lister,   appointed 
Historiographer,  1838,  xliv. 
Contributions  to  the  Ecclesiastical 
History  of  the  United   States, 
vol.  i,  1836,  xx;  vol.  ii,  1839, 
xliv. 
Report  from,  to  the  General  Con- 
vention of  1847,  "I^''- 
One  of  the  founders  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Historical  So- 
ciety, 1850, 1. 
publishes   Efforts   to  Obtain  the 
Episcopate  before  the  Revolu- 
tion, 1851,  Ixvi. 
Member  of  Committee  for  reprint- 
ing Journals,  liv. 
Death  of,  September  26,   1866, 

Iv. 
Testimony  of  House  of  Bishops 

on  the  Services  of,  lix. 
Return    of  White    Papers   com- 
mitted to,  Ixii. 
Hayes,  Charles  Harris,  Ixxxv. 
Hayes,  Henry,  appointed  member  of 
Commission  on  Archives,  1892, 
Ixxix,  xcii. 
Hazard,  Ebenezer,  316. 
Heathcote,  Caleb,  Iv. 
Heberton,  George,  124. 
Hempstead,  St.   George's    Church, 

cxv. 
Henderson,  Elizabeth,  161. 
Henderson,  Richard,  161. 
Henshaw,  J.  P.  K.,  xlix. 
Hicks,  Bishop,  cxciii. 
Hicks,  John  A.,  1. 
Higbee,  Edward  Y.,  member  of  Joint 

Committee,  liv. 
Higginbotham,  Ralph,  336. 


[    381    J 


INDEX 


Higginson,  Nathaniel,  6i. 

High  Churchman  Vindicated,  The: 
A  Charge  by  Hobart,  I  826,  ccviii. 

Hills,  George  Morgan, Historvof  the 
Church  in  Burlington,  New  Jer- 
sey, by,  Ixxiv. 

Himes,  William  Lloyd,  List  by, 
Ixxxiii. 

Hindley,  Robert  Clayton,  Ixxxv. 

Hingham,  Address  before  the  Citi- 
zens of  the  Town  of,  1835,  c. 

Historical  Account  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  South  Caro- 
lina, by  Fredericlc  Dalcho,  xiii. 

Historical  CoilecSions  relating  to  the 
American  Church,  edited  by  Wil- 
liam Stevens  Perry:  vol.  i,  Vir- 
ginia, Ixv;  vol.  ii,  Pennsylvania, 
Ixvi;  vol.  iv,  Maryland,  Ixxiv;  vol. 
V,  Delaware,  Ixxiv. 

Historiographer,  Francis  Lister 
Hawks  appointed,  1838,  xliv. 
Samuel  Hart  appointed,  1898, 
Ixxxi. 

History  of  the  Church  in  Burlington, 
New  Jersev,  by  George  Morgan 
Hills,  Ixxiv. 

History  of  the  Church  in  Westches- 
ter, from  its  Foundation,  1693  to 
1853,  ''y  Robert  Bolton,  liii. 

History  of  Jacobinism,  253. 

History  of  Southold,  by  Epher  Whit- 
taker,  cii. 

Hobart,  Dayton,  cc. 

Hobart,  Deborah  (born  I746),ciii. 

Hobart,  Deborah  (born  1763),  ciii. 

Hobart,  Deborah  (born  1766),  ciii. 

Hobart,  Edmund,  xcix. 

Hobart,  Elizabeth,  cciv. 


Hobart,  Elizabeth  Catherine,  cci. 
Hobart,  Enoch,  xcix,  cii,  ciii,  cc. 
Hobart,  Frances,  ciii. 
Hobart,  Gershom,  c. 
Hobart,  Hannah,  cii. 
Hobart,   Hannah  (mother  of  John 
Henry),  xcix,  cii,  ciii,  cc. 
Brothers  and  sisters  of,  262. 
Sketch  of,  241. 

Letters  from,  242,  245,  248,  257, 

259,260,271,274,  275,  276, 

278,  279, 281, 286, 287, 297, 

3031314,316,318,326,  342. 

Letter  from  John  Henry  Hobart 


Hobart,  Isaac,  ccii. 
Hobart,  Jane  Chandler,  cc. 
Hobart,  Jeremiah,  c. 
Hobart,  John,  cii. 

Hobart,  John  Henry,  born  in  Phil- 
adelphia, September  14,  1775, 
xcix,  ciii. 
baptized,  ciii. 

enters  Leslie's  School,  civ. 
goes  to  Episcopal  Academy,  Phila- 
delphia, 1784,  civ. 
founds  Society  for  Advancement 
in  Useful  Literature,  I785,cvi. 
confirmed,  1790,  cvi. 
enters     University    of    Pennsyl- 
vania, 1790,  cvi. 
Letter  to  his  Mother,  1792,  11. 
goes  to  College  of  New  Jersey, 

1793)  cvii. 
enters  counting-room  of  Robert 

Smith,  cix. 
offered    tutorship    at    Princeton, 
cix;  and  his  reply,    1793,  ex, 
155- 

[  382  :\ 


INDEX 


Hobart,  John  Henry, letter  to  Bishop 
White,  1796,  244. 

Letters  to  his  Sister  Rebecca,  1797, 
95.  300. 

Visit  to  Virginia,  1797,  333. 

Letter  from  his  Sister  Rebecca,  95. 

made  Deacon,  1798,  cxiii. 

in  charge  of  Trinity  Church,  Ox- 
ford, and  All  Saints',  Perkio- 
men,  1798,  cxiii. 

declines  curacy  at  St.  Paul's,  Phila- 
delphia, 1798,  cxiv. 

acceptscall  to  Christ  Church,  New 
Brunswick,  1799,  cxiv. 

secretary  to  the  House  of  Bishops, 
June  II— 19,  I  799,  cxv. 

declines  Hempstead,  July,  1799, 
cxv. 

marries  Mary  Goodin  Chandler, 
May  6,  1800,  cxvii. 

accepts  renewed  call  to  Hemp- 
stead, June,  1800,  cxvii. 

declines  St.  Mark's  in  the  Bow- 
ery, 1800,  cxvii. 

called  as  assistant  minister  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
1800,  cxvii. 

accepts  call,  cxviii. 

Letter  to  Charles  Fenton  Mercer 
from,  1 80 1,  cxix. 

ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Pro- 
voost,  1 80 1,  cxx. 

organizes  Society  for  Promoting 
Religion  and  Learning,  1802, 
cxx. 

re-publishes  Stephen's  Treatise  on 
the  Church,  1803,  cxx. 

publishes  Companion  for  the 
Altar,  1804,  cxx. 


Hobart,  John  Henry,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  York 
Bible  and  Common  Prayer 
Book  Society,  i8og,  cxxiii. 

elected  Assistant  Bishop,  181 1, 
cxxiii. 

attacked  by  Cave  Jones,  cxxiii. 

consecrated  Bishop,  1811,  cxxiii. 

proposes  establishment  of  gram- 
mar school,  1 8 14,  cxxv. 

opposes  establishment  of  General 
Theological  Seminary  in  New 
York,  1 8 14,  cxxv. 

Pastorals  of  18 15,  cxxvii. 

protests  against  formation  of 
American  Bible  Society,  1816, 
cxxvii. 

Controversy  with  Jay,  cxxvii. 

becomes  Bishop  of  New  York 
and  reftor  of  Trinity  Church, 
1816,  cxxix. 

urges  formation  of  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Education  Society,  cxxix. 

Address  at  the  Funeral  of  Bishop 
Moore,  cxxix. 

Pastoral  Letter  of  1820,  cxxix. 

proposes  Geneva  Interior  School, 
1820,  cxxix. 

Illness  of,  1822,  cxxxiii. 

visits  Quebec,  cxxxiv. 

sails  for  England,  1823,  cxxxiv. 

visits  Europe,  cxxxiv. 

preaches  at  Rome,  cxxxvi. 

returns  to  New  York,  Odtober 
12,  1825,  cxxxvii. 

Address  to  Diocesan  Convention, 
1825,  cxxxvii. 

proposes  Modifications  in  Prayer 
Book,  1826,  cxl. 


C  383  ] 


INDEX 


Hobart,  John  Henry,  visits  Detroit, 
Michigan,  1826,  cxliii. 
Last  Confirmation  by,  September 

9,  1826,  cxlvi. 
Death  of,  September  12,    1830, 

cxliv. 
Funeral  of,  clii. 
Monument  to,  cxcvi. 
Descendants  of,  cc. 
Bibliography  of  his  works,  ccv. 
Testimony  to,  by  John  Churchill 
Rudd,  cxliv. 
by  B.  T.  Onderdonk,  cliii. 
by  William  Berrian,  clviii. 
by  Jonathan  Mayhew   Wain- 

wright,  clxiii. 
by    William    Edward    Wyatt, 

clxvi. 
by  Christopher  Edwards  Gads- 
den, clxxi. 
by  William  White,  clxxvi. 
by  J.  F.  Schroeder,  clxxvi. 
by  Dr.  Matthews,  clxxviii. 
by  John  A.  King,  clxxix. 
by    Arthur    Cleveland    Coxe, 

clxxxii. 
by  Arthur  Lowndes,  clxxxvii. 
Celebration  of  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary    of  the    consecra- 
tion of,  xcvii. 
Papers  of,  xlvii,  liii. 
Hobart,   John    Henry  (son   of  the 
Bishop), a  founder  of  Protestant 
Episcopal  Historical  Society,  1. 
eledled  Registrar,  liii. 
Marriage  and  children  of,  cciv. 
Hobart,  John    Henry  (grandson  of 

the  Bishop),  cciv. 
Hobart,  Joshua,  cci. 

C  384  ] 


Hobart,  Margaret,  c. 

Hobart,  Mary,  ciii. 

Hobart,  Mary  (born  1756),  ciii. 

Hobart,  Mary  (born  1759),  ciii,  18. 

Hobart,  Mary  Collins,  cciv. 

Hobart,  Mary  Goodin,  cc. 

Marriage  to  John  Henry  Hobart, 
cxvii. 
Hobart,    Mary    Goodin    Chandler, 

cciv. 
Hobart,  Mary  Rainsford,  c. 
Hobart,  Nathaniel  Potts,  18. 
Hobart,  Nehemiah,  c. 
Hobart,  Peter,  xcix,  c,  cii. 
Hobart,  Rebecca  (born  1757),  ciii. 
Hobart,  Rebecca  (born  1760),  ciii, 
13-  [95- 

Letters  from  and  to  John  Henry, 
Hobart,  Rebecca  Smith,  cc. 
Hobart,  Robert,  ciii. 
Hobart,  Robert  Enoch  (born  1761), 

ciii. 
Hobart,  Robert  Enoch  (born  1768), 

ciii,  12,  36,  346. 
Hobart,  Robert  Enoch,  Jr.,  275. 
Hobart,  Sarah,  13. 
Hobart,  William  Henry,  cxlvii,  cc. 
Hollister,  Algernon  Sidney,  cxlvi. 
Hooper,  Joseph,  Ixvi,  xcvi. 
Hopkins,  John  Henry,  Ixxxii. 
Home,  Thomas  Hartwell,  xxxi. 
Horsley,  Samuel,  292. 
House  of  Bishops,  Pastoral  Letters, 
1808,  181 1,  1814,  xvii. 

Special  Session,  1866,  1868,  Ivi. 
How, Thomas  Yardley,cli,cxc,cxcii. 
Howe,  Mark  Antony  De  Wolfe,  liv, 

Ixxiii. 


INDEX 


Howe,  Mary  Amorv,  cciii. 
Howley,    William,    Archbishop    of 
Canterbury,  xliii. 

Letter  to,   from    Bishop   White, 
xxvii. 

Letter  from,  to  Dr.  Hawks,  xxxix. 

Letter  to,  from  Dr.  Hawks,  xl. 
Hughes,  Ball,  Monument  by,  to  Ho- 

bart,  cxcvi. 
Hughes,  Thomas  Edgar,  278. 
Hunt,  HoUoway  Whitefield,  97. 
Hunt,  Nathaniel,  30. 
Hunt,  Robert,  31. 
Hunter,  Andrew,  30. 
Huntington,  Samuel  H.,  li. 
Hutchinson,  James,  37. 
Hymns,  Collection  of,  xc. 

Ide,  Simeon,  liv. 

Index,    Alphabetical,    to     Letters, 

1757-1797,  351- 
Index,    Chronological,    to    Letters, 

1757— 1797,  ccxi. 
Indian  Queen,  The,  157. 
Ingersoll,  Charles  Jared,  285. 
Ingersoll,  Jared,  Sketch  of,  284. 

Letters  from,  284,  308. 
Insurance  Company  of  North  Amer- 
ica, 247. 
Introdudtion   to  the  History  of  the 

Church,  by  Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis, 

Hi. 
Ireland,  John,  of  Maryland,  167. 
Israel,  Israel,  89. 
Israel,  Prayers  of,  with  an  English 

Translation,  A.M.  5609,  obtained, 

Ixxxix. 
Italy,  Places  visited  by  Hobart  in, 

cxxxiv. 

:  38 


Ives,  Ellen  Culberson,  cciii. 
Ives,  John  Henry  Hobart,  cc. 
Ives,  Levi  Silliman,  cc. 
Ives,  Rebecca  Smith,  cc. 

Jackson,  A.,  1. 
Jacobinism,_Histon'  of,  253. 
James,  J.,  166. 

Jarvis,  Abraham,  joins  in  consecra- 
tion of  Bishop  Hobart,  cxxiii, 
and  Bishop  Griswold,  cxxiv. 
Death  of,  1813,  cxxix. 
Jarvis,   Samuel    Farmar,    appointed 
Historiographer  of  the  Church, 
xliv. 
Introdudtion  to  the  History  of  the 

Church,  by,  lii. 
Death  of,  March  26,  1851,  li. 
Papers  of,  liii. 
Jay,  John,  55. 
Jay,  Peter  A.,  xxxiv. 
Jav,    William,     Controversy    with 

Hobart,  cxxvii. 
Jay  Treaty,  The,  61. 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  229,  329. 
Jenkins,  Leolin,  Ixvi. 
Johns,  John,  Ixii. 
Johns,  Kinsey,  166. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  S.,  xxxiv. 
Johnson,   Samuel,    Correspondence 
of,  xi. 
Life  of,  by  Chandler,  xii,  cxciii. 
Joint    Committee    on    Documents, 
Report  of,  XV,  xxv.  [Ixxiii. 

on  re-publication  of  Journals, 
Jones,  Cave,  opposes  Hobart,  cxxiii. 
Jones,  of   Navland,    Writings    of, 

cxciii. 
Jones,  William  Strother,  Ixxxv. 

5    ] 


INDEX 


Journals,  Diocesan,  List  of,obtained, 
xvii,  Ixxxvi. 
List  of,  not  obtained,  xviii. 

Journals  of  the  General  Council  of 
Church  in  Confederate  States, 
with  a  copy  of  the  Canons  and 
a  Pastoral  Letter,  Ixxxvii. 

1S.EITH,  George,  li,  cxiii. 
Kemp,  James,  xviii. 
Kemper,  Jackson,  xiv,  xv. 
Kerfoot,  John  Barrett,  Ixxxi. 
King,  John  A.,  clxxix. 
King,  Rufus,  liii,  clxxix. 
King's  College,  7. 
Kip,  William  Ingraham,  1. 
Kitchell,  Aaron,  193. 
Knight,  Edward  Jennings,  Ixxxv. 
Knox,  Mrs.,  323. 
Knox,  William  &  Co.,  292. 
Knox,  Vicesimus,  Compiler  of  Ele- 
gant Extracts,  16. 

JLaird,  Martha  Elizabeth,  161. 

Lamercy,  Mr.,  226. 

Lamplev,  Sarah,  345. 

Lancaster,  Proposed  settlement  by 
Hobart  at,  244. 

Lawrence, William,  appointed  mem- 
ber of  Commission  on  Archives, 
1910,  Ixxxiv,  xcii. 

Lee,  Alfred,  xlvi,  Ixii. 

Lee,  Henry,  200,  231. 

Lee,  Henry  Washington,  Ixxiv. 

Leslie,  Mr., Grammar  School  of, civ. 

Leslie  and  Price,  250. 

Letters  for  the  consecration  of  Bish- 
ops, appropriation  for  printing, 
Ixxxviii. 


Lewis,  John,  1 14. 

Librarian  of  the  General  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  eledted  Register,  xlv. 

Lincoln,  Solomon,  testimony  of,  to 
Peter  Hobart,  c. 

Lindsey,  Theophilus,  Sermon  and 
Works  by,  obtained,  xc. 

List  of  Books  referred  to,  361. 

Little,  John,  84. 

Littlejohn,  Joseph  Blount,  198. 

Liturgy  for  the  New  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, 1876,  xc. 

Lloyd,  Edward,  336. 

London,  Bishop  of,  xx,  xxxv,  xxxvi, 
Ixxxviii. 
Letter  from  Dr.  Hawks  to,  xli. 
Listof  Persons  licensed  toofficiate 
by,  li. 

Love,  Catharine  Elizabeth,  cci. 

Lowndes,  Arthur,  xliii,  Ixxxiv. 

Lucy,  18. 

Lusby,  Josiah,  16. 

Lyell,  Thomas,  clii. 

M.ACLEAN,  John,  cviii,  169,  203. 

MacMullen,  French  F.,  131. 

Madison,  James  (Bishop),  cxxiii. 

Madison,  James,  192. 

Magaw,  Samuel,  cxiv,  259. 

Maine,  All  Journals  of,  not  ob- 
tained, xviii. 

Man  of  God,  The:  A  Sermon  by 
Hobart,  1828,  ccviii. 

Mant  and  D'Oyley's  Commentary, 
clxxiv,  ccvii. 

Mapleton,  27. 

Maryland,  Address  from  the  Con- 
vention of,  to  vestries,  1794,  ob- 
tained, xviii. 


c  386  :i 


INDEX 


Maryland,   Address   of    Bishop   of, 
1816,  obtained,  xviii. 
Constitution      and     canons     of, 
printed  in  1802,  obtained,  xviii. 
Journals  of  1784,  from  1788    to 
1800,  from  1802  to  1 804,  from 
1 806 to  1 8 1 9,of  1 8 2 1 ,obtained, 
xviii. 
Journals  of,  from  1785  to  1787, 
1801,1 805, 1 820,  not  obtained, 
xix. 
Pastoral  Letter  from  the  two  Bish- 
ops of,  1816,  obtained,  xviii. 
Address  by  Committee  of  Con- 
vention of  1 81 7,  xviii. 
Mason,  Stevens  Thomson,  cxxxii, 

cxciii,  117. 
Massachusetts,     Constitution     and 
Canons  of,  published  in  181  7, 
obtained,  xvii. 
All  Journals  but  that  of  1 790,  not 

obtained,  xviii. 
Journal  of  1790,  obtained,  xvii. 
Diocese  of.  Convention  of  1868, 
Ixxi. 
Matthews,  Dr.,  clxxviii. 
Mattison,  Aaron,  329. 
Maury,  Abb(§,  159. 
Maxwell,  George  Clifford,  142. 
McCormick,  Andrew  Thomas,  226. 
McEuen,  Thomas,  xiv. 
Mcllvaine,  Charles  Pettit,  xlv. 
McKean's  Advertisement,  347. 
McKee,  David,  25. 
McRee,  142. 
McVickar,  John,  cxxv. 

Early  and  Professional  Years  of 
Hobart,  by,cv,  cvi,  cxx,cxxvii, 
cxxxiii. 


Mead,  William  Cooper,  1,  lii. 

Meade,  William,  xxv. 

Memorial  from  the  heirs  of  Bishop 

White  to  the  House  of  Bishops, 

Ix. 
Mercer,  Charles  Fenton,  xiii,  cxix. 
Mercer,  Colonel,  328. 
Meredith,  Mary  Emlen,  cciii. 
Meredith,  William,  civ,  cv. 
Metcalf,  Theron,  li. 
Miles,  Samuel,  315,  318.  [ccii. 

Miller,   Ann    Emlen   (born    1833), 
Miller,  Ann    Emlen   (born    1870), 

ccii. 
Miller,  Charles  Willing  Hare,  ccii. 
Miller,  Charlotte  Barclay,  ccii. 
Miller,  Dayton  Hobart,  ccii. 
Miller,  Dickinson  Sergeant,  ccii. 
Miller,  Edward  Alden,  ccii. 
Miller,  Elihu  Spencer,  2d,  ccii. 
Miller,  Elihu  Spencer,  3d,  ccii. 
Miller,  Elizabeth  Hobart,  ccii. 
Miller,  Elizabeth  Rebecca,  ccii. 
Miller,  Emlen  Hare,  ccii. 
Miller,  Hobart,  ccii. 
Miller,  John  Biddle,  ccii. 
Miller,  Mrs.  John,  281. 
Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John,  289. 
Miller,  Joseph  Selden,  ccii. 
Miller,  Marion  Spencer,  ccii. 
Miller,  Samuel  Millington,  ccii. 
Miller,  Sarah  Sergeant,  ccii. 
Miller,  Spencer,  ccii. 
Miller,  Virginia  Breckenbridge,ccii. 
Minerva,  The,  295. 
Minto,  Walter,  cviii,  48. 

Sketch  of,  205. 

Letter  from,  205. 


[    387    ] 


INDEX 


Minto,  Walter,  Mrs.,  331. 
Missionary,  The,  xxxiii. 
Mitchell,  Kdward,  115. 
Montgomery,  Mary  H.,  Ixi. 
Montgomery,  Thomas  H.,  Ixi. 
Moore,  Mr.,  338. 
Moore,  Benjamin,  cxix. 

Death  of,  cxxix. 
Moore,  John,  cxv. 
Moore,  Richard  Channing,  cxv,  clii. 
Moore,  Thomas  Lambert,  cxv. 
Moral  Efficacy  and  the  Positive  Bene- 
fits of  the  Ordinances  of  the  Gos- 
pel,Sermon  by  Hobart,  i8i6,ccvi. 
Morford,  Stephen,  334. 
Morgan,    J.     Pierpont,    appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1895,  Ixxix,  xcii. 
appointed  member  of  Sub-Com- 
mittee on   Publication  of  Ar- 
chives, 1910,  V,  Ixxxiii. 
agrees  to  bear  cost  of  publication 

of  Archives,  Ixxxiv. 
signs  Report  of  Commission  on 

Archives,  19 10,  Ixxxiv. 
Donation  from,  of  Perry  Docu- 
ments, Ixxxii. 
of  pamphlets,  Ixxxvi. 
of  set  of  Journals  of  New  York 
to  the  year  1870,  bound  in 
seventeen  volumes,  Ixxxvii. 
ofsetof  the  Journals  of  Western 
New  York  to  the  year  1900, 
bound   in   twenty    volumes, 
with  a  colleiSion  of  Journals 
of   other    Dioceses,   chiefly 
those  in  the  State  of  New 
York,     of     various     dates, 
Ixxxvii. 


Morgan,  J.  Pierpont,  Donation  from, 
of  twelve  early  General  Conven- 
tion Journals,  Ixxxvii. 
of  five  Journals  of  the  General 
Council  of  the  Church  in  the 
Confederate  States,  with  a  copv 
of  the  Canons  and  a  Pastoral 
Letter,  the  Documentary  His- 
tory of  Conne£licut  in  sheets, 
and    reports    of    the    Church 
Congresses  in  1882  and  1888, 
Ixxxvii. 
of  American  Praver  Book  in  the 
G'debo  dialefl  of  the  Kru  lan- 
guage, Ixxxix. 
of  The  American  Prayer  Book  in 
French,  printed  in  New  York, 
i860,  Ixxxix. 
of    The    Common    Prayer    Re- 
formed for  the  use  of  the  Essex 
Street  Chapel,  London,  1839, 
Ixxxix. 
of  an  8vo  reprint  of  the  Prayer 
Book   of  1662    from    the   ori- 
ginal   manuscript,   and    works 
by     Evan     Daniel     and     Dr. 
Morgan    Dix    on    the    Prayer 
Book,  Ixxxix. 

Morris,  Robert,  226. 

Morrison,  Jeannette,  Ixxxix. 

Morton,  William  Jackson,  Ixxxvi. 

Murrays,  The  Miss,  312. 

Nashotah,  Ixxvii. 
Nassau  Hall,  cvii. 
Nassau  Hotel,  Princeton,  60. 
Neilson,  John,  152. 
Nelson's  Companion  to  the  Festivals 
and  Fasts  of  the  Church,  cxcii. 


:  388  ] 


INDEX 


New   Hampshire,  All   Journals  of, 

not  obtained,  xviii. 
New  Jersey,  College  of,  cvii. 
New  Jersey,  Journals  for  Annual  and 
Special   Conventions   of  1 799 
not  obtained,  xviii. 
Journals  from  1 785  to  1 798, 1 800 
to    1822,    and    Address    from 
President  of  the  Convention  of 
1797  obtained,  xvii. 
Canons,    Constitution,   etc.,    of, 
printed  in  1 8 1 1 ,  obtained,  xvii. 
Charge  of  the  Bishop  of,  18 19, 

obtained,  xviii. 
Report  of  the  State  of  the  Church 
in,  for  1 8 14,  xvii. 
New  Jersey,  oversight  of  Diocese  by 

Hobart,  clxxxviii. 
New  York  Bible  andCommon  Prayer 
Book  Society,  founded  in    1809, 
cxxiii,  cxxvii,  clxxxix. 
New  York  Catechism,  The,  cxciii. 
New  York,  Journals  from  1792  to 
1800,  1813,  1817,  1819,  not 
obtained,  xviii. 
from  1785  to  1 791,  180 1  to  181 2, 
1814  to  1816,  1818,  1820  to 
1822,     and    Constitution    and 
Canons  of  1 8 1 2,  obtained,  xvii. 
New  York  Post  Office,  37. 
New    York     Protestant     Episcopal 
Traft  Society  founded  in   18 10, 
cxc. 
Newton,  Edward  A.,  1. 
Newton,  John,  239. 
Newton,  John  Brockenbrough,  Ser- 
mon at  consecration  of,  Ixxxiii. 
Nichols,  A.,  1. 
Nicholson,  John,  226. 


Nollekens,  Joseph,  cxcvi. 

Norris,  Henry  H., xxviii,  xxix,  xxxiv, 

xliii. 
North     Carolina,    History    of    the 

Church  in,  xlviii. 
Note  from  Corrector  to  William  Jay, 

1823,  by  Hobart,  ccvii. 
Nourse,  Joseph,  221. 

Observations  on  a  late  Pamphlet, 

1815,  by  Hobart,  ccvi. 
Odenheimer,   William    Henry,   liv, 
Ixiv,  Ixvii,  Ixix,  Ixx,  Ixxv. 
appointed  member  of  Commission 
on     Church     Archives     1868, 
Ixiv,  xci. 
Offer  of  William  White  to  Hobart, 

155- 

Office  accepted  by  Hobart,  155. 

Office  of  Institution,  1808,  Ixxxvii. 

Ogilby,  John  D.,  xlv. 
death  of,  li. 

Ohio,  Journals  of  1 8 19,  1820,  ob- 
tained, xviii. 
1818,  1821,  1822,  not  obtained, 
xix. 

Old  Catholic  Congress  at  Cologne, 
Ixxvii. 

Olden,  David,  334. 

Onderdonk,  Benjamin  Tredwell, 
Ixxvii,  xc,  cliii,  cxci. 

Onderdonk,  Henry  Ustick,  xxv, 
Ixxxvi. 

Ordinations  of  Deacons,  List  of, 
Ixii,  Ixxi. 

Origin,  the  General  Character  and 
the  Present  Situation  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States,  1814,  The,  ccv. 


[  389 : 


INDEX 


Otey,  James  Harvey,  xlv. 

Otto,  Daniel,  152,  195. 

Otto,    Jacob    Schweighauser,    195, 

216. 
Otto,  John  Conrad,  Classmates  of, 

33- 

Sketch  of,  28. 

Letters  from,  28,  139,  150,  194, 
214. 
Oxford  Movement,  The,  clxxxvii. 

±ACKARD,Thomas  Jones,  lxxxv,xc. 

Paley,  William,  306. 

Parker,  Samuel,  Correspondence  of, 

liv,  Iv,  Ixxx. 
Parrot,  Joseph,  loi. 
Parsons,  Constance,  cciii. 
Pastoral    Letters    from    House    of 
Bishops,    1808,    1811,    1814, 
obtained,  xvii. 

1808,  181 1,  obtained,  Ixxxvii. 

181  7— 1820,  not  obtained,  xviii. 
Pastoral  Letters  from  Hobart,  181 5, 
cxxvii,  ccv. 

1820,  ccvii. 

1829,  ccix. 
Paterson,  A.  B.,  1. 
Paterson,  William,  328. 

Peggy'  37- 

Pellar,  Frances,  ciii. 

Pellar,  James,  ciii. 

Pemberton,  Rebecca  Clifford,  cciii. 

Pemberton,  Sarah,  ciii. 

Pendleton,  Philip  Clayton,  131. 

Pennsylvania,  Constitution  and  Can- 
ons of,  printed  in    1822,  ob- 
tained, xviii. 
Journalsof,  i  785-1822, obtained, 
xviii. 


Pennsylvania,   Journals   of,    1814— 

1817,  obtained,  Ixxxvii. 
Perkins,  Charles  Edwin,  Ixxxvi. 
Perkins,  Elisha,  201,  334. 
Perrine,  Matthew  La  Rue,  338. 
Perry,  William  Stevens,  Reprints  of 
Journals  by,  xiv,  liv,  Iv,  Ixxiii. 

Documents  entrusted  to,  Ivi. 

Historical  Colledions  by,  Ixv, 
Ixvi,  Ixxii,  Ixxiii,  Ixxiv. 

appointed  Historiographer,  Ixiv. 

History  of  American  Episcopal 
Church,  by,  Ixxxi. 

Deputy-Registrar  of  Convention, 
Ixvii. 

Report  from,  Ixviii. 

consecrated  Bishop  of  Iowa, 
1876,  Ixxiv. 

appointed  member  of  Commis- 
sion on  Archives,  1892,  Ixxix, 
xcii. 

Death  of,  1898,  Ixxx. 
Peters,  Richard,  ciii. 
Peters,  Samuel,  xlvii. 
Phillips,  William,  147. 
Philomathean  Societv,  cvi. 
Pickering,  Timothy,  255. 
Pinckney,  Charles  Cotesworth,  265, 

270. 
Pius  VII,  cxxxv. 

Play  performed  Oflober,  I  797, 3 1 2. 
Pocket  Almanac,  The,  cxcii. 
Pompey,  cxlvi. 
Pope,  Alexander,   Quotation    from, 

216. 
Porcupine,  Peter  (see  also,  William 

Cobbett),  152. 
Posthumous  works  of  Hobart,  ccix. 
Pott,  James,  Iv. 


C  390  J 


INDEX 


Potter,  Alonzo,  xlix. 

Potter,   Henry  Codman,  appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1892,  Ixxix,  xcii. 
Death  of,  Ixxxiv. 

Potter,  Horatio,  liv. 

Potts, Mrs.  John, from  Virginia,  25 8. 

Potts,  Joseph,  272,  346. 

Potts,  Rebecca,  13. 

Potts,  Richard,  xxv. 

Pottsgrove,  346. 

Poyntell,  William,  278. 

Pratt,  Charles,  262. 

Pratt,  Deborah  (born  1741),  262. 

Pratt,   Deborah    (born    1746),   ciii, 
262. 

Pratt,  Deborah  (born  1 763),  ciii. 

Pratt,  Deborah  (born  1 766),  ciii. 

Pratt,  Hannah,  xcix,  cii,  262. 

Pratt,  Henry,  Captain,  cii. 

Pratt,  Henry  (Pevvterer),  cii. 

Pratt,  Henry,  cii,  ciii,  262. 

Pratt,  Joseph,  262. 

Pratt,  Matthew,  262. 

Manuscript  Recollections  of,  cii, 
ciii. 

Pratt,  Rebecca,  262. 

Pratt,  Rebecca  Claypoole,  262. 

Pratt,  Thomas,  262. 

Prayer  Book,  of  the  Church  of  Ire- 
land, xc. 
in    French,    printed    i860,    ob- 
tained, Ixxxix. 
in  the  G'debo  dialeft  of  the  Kru 

language,  obtained,  Ixxxix. 
Reformed,  for  use  of  Essex  Street 
Chapel,    London,    1839,    ob- 
tained, Ixxxix. 


Prayer  Book,  Reprint  of,  1662,  ob- 
tained, Ixxxix. 
reformed  by  Samuel  Clarke,  xc. 
English,  in  the  Irish  language,  xc. 
in  French,  1846,  xc. 
published  by  D.  Appleton  &  Co., 

1845,  xc. 
published  by  Thomas  Si  Andrews, 
1794,  obtained,  Ixxxix. 

Prayer  Book,  American,  522  editions 
of,  in  Custodian's  collection,  xc. 

Prayer  Books  reported  as  acquired, 
19 10,  Ixxxix. 

Pravers  and  Hymns  for  the  Church 
and  the  Home,  Universalist  Pub- 
lishing House,  Boston,  1871,  xc. 

Preface,  xcv. 

President  in  August,  1796,  The, 
226. 

Price,  Isaac,  250. 

Priestley,  Joseph,  83. 

Principles  of  the  Churchman  stated 
and  explained,  1819,  by  Hobart, 
cc\ii. 

Proposed  settlement  of  Hobart  at 
Lancaster,  The,  244. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Education  So- 
ciety, 1820,  cxxix. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  So- 
ciety, formation  of,  1850,  xlix. 
Collections  for  1851,  li. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Press,  cxc. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Theological 
Society,  cxxi. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Trait  Society, 
founded  1 8 10,  cxc. 

Protestant  Episcopalian,  The,  xxiii. 

Provoost,  Samuel,  Documents  relat- 
ing to  consecration  of,  xi. 


C  391  ] 


INDEX 


Provoost,   Samuel,    Retirement    of, 
cxviii. 
ordains  Hobart  priest,  cxx. 
joins    in    consecration    of    John 
Henry  Hobart  and   Alexander 
Viets  Griswold,  cxxiv. 
Psalms   and  Hymns,  Seledlions  of, 

1850,  xc. 
Psalms  in  Metre,  Report  cf  Com- 
mittee, 1830,  Ixxxvi. 
Psalms,  Watts's,  1808,  xc. 
Psalter,  1774,  xc. 

QuiNTARD,  Charles  Todd,  Ixvi. 

Rainsford,  Mary,  c. 
Ralph,  George,  227. 
Randall,  George  Maxwell,  Ixx. 
Randolph,  Edmund,  124,  149. 
Ratification   of    treaty   with    Great 

Britain,  1 15. 
Rattoone,  Elijah  D.,  cxv. 
Ravenscroft,  John  Stark,  xlvii,  liii, 

Ivi,  Iviii. 
Rayner,  Joseph  W.,  Iv. 
Reciprocal  Duties  of  Ministers  and 

People:   A    Sermon    by    Hobart, 

1830,  ccix. 
RecollecStions  of  Bishop  Hobart,  by 

Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  clxxxiv. 
Redman,  John,  168. 
Reed,  Dennis  de  Berdt,  207. 
Reed,  Dr.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  xxxiv. 
Reed,  Elizabeth  White,  Ixi. 
Reed,  Henry,  1. 
Reed,  Joseph,  Sketch  of,  206. 

Letter  from,  206. 
Rees,   Abraham,   Encyclopedia  by, 

xiii. 


Reese,  John  Livingston,  appointed 
Registrar,  Ixxvii,  Ixxviii. 
Death  of,  Ixxxii. 
Testimony  to,  by  S.  Hart,  Ixxxii. 

Register  of  the  House  of  Bishops, 
office  of,  created,  1841,  xlv. 

Registrar,  adopted  instead  of  name 
Register,  1847,  '^'v'- 

Reply  to  an  Answer  to  Bishop  Ho- 
bart's  Pastoral  Letter  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Bible  and  Common  Prayer 
Book  Societies,  etc.,  1815,  ccvi. 

Reply  to  a  letter  to  Bishop  Hobart 
occasioned  by  the  Strictures  on 
Bible  Societies,  1823,  ccviii. 

Reply  to  a  letter  to  Bishop  Hobart, 
by  William  Jay,  1823,  ccvii. 

Rhea,  Ebenezer,  61. 

Rhea,  Mary,  40. 

Rhode  Island,  All  Journals  of,  not 
obtained,  xviii. 

Riggs,  Elizabeth,  cciv. 

Rives,  Elizabeth  Emlen,  cciii. 

Rives,  George  Barclay,  cciii. 

Robertson,  Elizabeth,  52. 

Robertson,  Francis,  52. 

Robertson,  Hannah  Webster,  51. 
Death  of,  52. 

Robertson,  Helen,  52. 

Robertson,    James,    Reference    to, 
cvii,  37. 
Sketch  of,  51. 

Letters  from,  52,  58,  70,  85,  87, 
III, 118, 123, 132, 13s, 138, 
148,  i535i7i>  177^210,219, 
220, 236, 251, 263, 269, 273, 
290, 293, 299. 

Robertson,  John,  52. 

Robertson,  J.  J.,  1. 


[    392    ] 


INDEX 

Robertson,  Margaretta,  52. 
Robertson,  Mary,  52. 
Robertson,  Mary  Clarkson,  52. 
Robertson,  Mary  Daniels,  52. 
Robertson,  Rebecca  Smith,  52. 
Robertson,  Robert,  121. 
Room-mate,  Death  of  a,  25. 
Rose,  Hugh  James,  xxx. 
Ross,  John,  137. 

Ross  &  Simson,  221.  [cxci. 

Rudd,  John  Churchill,  xxxiii,  cxliv, 
RufF,  Daniel,  ciii,  52,  262. 
RufF,  Deborah,  ciii,  52. 
Ruff,  Hannah  Webster,  51,  280. 
Ruggles,  Samuel  B.,  liv. 
Rush,  Benjamin,  152. 

Sketch  of,  234. 

Letter  from,  235. 
Rutledge,  John,  125. 
Rutledge,  Mr.,  xx. 


Salles,  Mr.,  258. 
Sayrs,  John  Johnson,  Sketch  of,  19. 
Letter  from,  20. 
Note  on  spelling  of  Sayrs,  21. 
Letters  from,  122,  143,  172. 
Schroeder,  John  Frederick,  cviii. 
Memoir  of  Hobart  by,  cix,  cxiii, 
cxvi,   cxvii,  cxxxvii,  cxxxviii, 
cli,  clviii,  clxiii,  clxvii,  clxxi, 
clxxvi,  clxxviii. 
Scott,  Hannah,  130. 
Scott,  Joseph  Warren,  Sketch  of,  90. 
Letters  from,  92,  98,  100,  102, 
106,  108,  109,  130,  146. 
Seabury,  Samuel,  Documents  relat- 
ing to  consecration  of,xi,lxxxii. 
Note  on,  173. 


Seabury  Family,  Sketch  of,  by  Wil- 
liam Jones  Seabury,  Iv. 
Security  of  a  Nation,  The,  by  Ho- 
bart, ccv. 
Semmes  Tavern,  202. 
Sermons   on  the  Principal  Events, 

etc.,  by  Hobart,  ccviii. 
Services  to  be  used  by  the   Clergy 
in  their  Private  Ministrations,  by 
Hobart,  cxciii. 
Sheets,  George,  cxiii. 
Sheffey,  Hugh  W.,  Ixiv. 
Sherman,  Henry  B.,  1. 
Sherred,  Jacob,  Legacy  from,  cxxx. 
Shippen,  William,  120. 
Short   Hills,  New  Jersey,  Proposed 

Grammar  School  at,  cxxv. 
Shuckford,  Samuel,  240. 
Sitgreaves,  Samuel,  xiv. 
Skinner,   Abraham,  Jr.,  Reference 
to,  cxii,  31. 
Sketch  of,  46. 
Letters  from,  46,  66,  80. 
Skinner,  Abraham,  Sr.,  Reference  to, 
40. 
Sketch  of,  127. 
Letters  from,  127,  133. 
Skinner,  Gloriana,  50. 
Slafter,  Edmund  Farwell,  Donation 
from,   of   Historical    Pamphlets, 
Ixxxiii. 
Slaughter,  Philip,  1. 
Smith,  Alexander  Robertson,  345. 
Smith,  Anna,  345. 
Smith,  Benjamin  Bosworth,  xlvi. 
Smith,  Ebenezer,  61. 
Smith,  Elizabeth,  345. 
Smith,  Henry  Hobart,  320. 


C   393   H 


INDEX 


Smith,  James  B.,  55,  72. 
Smith,  James  Murdock,  Ixxxvi. 
Smith,  James  R.,  45. 
Smith,  John  Rhea  Clarendon,  323, 

345- 
Smith,  Mary  Rhea,  345. 
Smith,  Rebecca,  13. 
Sketch  of,  300. 
Letter  from  Hobart  to,  300. 
Smith,  Robert,  cvii,  cix. 
Sketch  of,  34. 
Letters  from,  35,  36,  322. 
Reference  to,  loi,  283. 
Children  of,  345. 
Smith,  Robert,  Jr.,  345. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Robert,  13. 
Smith,  Samuel  Stanhope,  cvii,  cviii, 

cix,cxi,  cxii,  cxiii,  37,  61,  105. 
Smith,  William,  first  editor  of  The 
Churchman's  Magazine,  xi. 
Papers  of,  xlvii,  liii. 
Smith  on  the  American  Constitution, 


Smith  Street,  37. 

Smith's  Observations,  261. 

Society  for  Advancement  in  Useful 

Literature,  cvi. 
Society  for  Advancement  of  Chris- 
tianity in  Pennsylvania,  xv. 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts,  xxii,  li. 
Letter  to  the  Secretary  of,  from 
Dr.  Hawks,  xlii. 
Society  for  Promoting  Religion  and 

Learning,  organized  1802,  cxx. 
Soldier  and  Servant  Series,  clxxxiv. 
South  Carolina,History  of  the  Church 
in,  xlviii.  [xviii. 

Journals   of    1818-22,  obtained, 

C    394    J 


South  Carolina,  Journals  of  1825, 

1827-1830,  obtained,  Ixxxvi. 

from  commencement  to  1817 

not  obtained,  xix. 
MSS.  of  proposed  constitution 
of,  obtained,  xviii. 
Southall,  iMartha,  161. 
Southern  Churchman,  xxxiii. 

from  its  commencement, obtained, 

xxiii.  [cii. 

Southold,  Long  Island,  History  of, 

Southwark,  John  Hobart  settled  in, 

cii. 
Spencer,  Bird  W.,  Ixxxvi. 
Spencer,  J.  A.,  Ixxxvi. 
Spinckes,  Churchman's  Companion 

for  the  Closet  by,  cxciii. 
Sprague,  William,  clxxviii. 

Annals  of  the  American  Episcopal 
Pulpit  by,  clxxxii. 
St.  Mark's  in  the  Bowery,  Redor- 
ship  of,  declined  by  Hobart,  cxvii. 
Stages  between  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia, 60. 
Standard    Book   of   1793    obtained, 

Ixxxix. 
Stanford  and  Sword's  Church  Book 

Warehouse,  clxxxiii. 
Statement  addressed  to  the  Episco- 
palians in  the  State  of  New  York, 
1812,  ccv. 
Stephen,  Treatise  on  the  Nature  and 
Constitution     of    the     Christian 
Church,  by,  cxx. 
Stevens,  William  Bacon,  1,  Ivii,  lix, 
Ix,  Ixxx. 
appointed  member  of  Commission 
on  Church  Archives,  1868, Ixiv, 
xci. 


INDEX 


Stewart,  Duncan  L.,  1. 
Stewart,  Walter,  Sketch  of,  197. 

Letters  from,  197,  208. 
Stewart,  William,  Sketch  of,  217. 

Letter  from,  217. 

References  to,  198,  205. 
Stocker,  Mary  Katherine,  282. 
Stockers,  The,  288. 
Stockton,  Christine  Hare,  ccii. 
Stockton,  Christine  Singer,  ccii. 
Stockton,  Marv  Hare,  ccii. 
Stockton,  N.  Allen,  ccii. 
Stockton,  Newberry  Allen,  ccii. 
Sturgess,  William,  cii. 
Sunday     School    Society,    founded 

1817,  cxc. 
Susey,  347. 
Sutton,  Archbishop,  death  of,  xliii. 

1  AFT,  George,  Ixviii. 

Tait,  Bishop,  xliii. 

Talbot,  John,  li,  Ixxiv. 

TatJock,  William,  Ixxviii. 

Taylor,  Bennet,cviii,cix,  26,  30,84. 

Taylor,  Mary  Hare,  ccii. 

Taylor,  Nathan  Hollingshead,  ccii. 

Tenant,  John,  289. 

Tenbrook,  Abraham,  220. 

Terhune,  John,  26,  31,  69,  84. 
Brother  of,  69. 

Tevnac  or  Tevnar,  Helen,  cci. 

Thomas,  Reuen,  xc. 

Thompson,  Stephen,  240,  306. 

Tiffany, Charles  Comfort,  appointed 
member  of  Commission  on  Ar- 
chives, 1898,  Ixxxi,  xcii. 
Death  of,  Ixxxiii. 

Torshall,  Mr.,  xxx. 


Transcripts,  concerning  the  Church 
in  Conne£licut, publication  begun, 
1862,  Iv. 
Travers,  John,  203. 
Treadwell,  Daniel,  9. 
Trinity  Church,  New  York,  Dona- 
tions from,  xxvii,  xxxvii,  xlvii. 
Celebration  in,  of  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  consecration  of 
Bishop  Hobart,  xcvii. 
Hobart    called    as     assistant    in, 

cxvii. 
Hobart  consecrated  in,  as  Third 

Bishop  of  New  York,  cxxiii. 
Hobart  preaches  in,on  first  Sunday 
after  his  return  from  Europe, 
cxxxvii. 
Funeral  of  Hobart  in,  cli. 
Monument  to  Hobart  in,  cxcvi. 
Trinity  School,  New  York,  cxc. 

Unitarian  Church  at  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  Services  and 
Hymns  for,  1867,  xc. 

United  States  Commission  at  Paris, 
The,  324. 

United  States  of  America  compared 
with  some  European  Countries, 
particularly  England,  by  Hobart, 
1825,  ccviii. 

Updike,  Wilkins,  li. 

Ursula,  276. 

Van  Dike,  John  J.,  239. 
Van  Ingen,  Dr.,  clxxxiii. 
Van  Pelt,  Peter,  1. 

Varick  Street,  No.   50,  reftory  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York,  cli. 
Vassal,  Margaret,  c. 


C   395  ] 


Vassal,  William,  c. 
Vermont,  All   Journals  of,  not  ob- 
tained, xviii.  [cciv. 
Verpianck,  Mary  Goodin  Chandler, 
Verplanck,  Samuel,  cciv. 
Vindication  of  Pastoral  Letter,  1829, 

by  Hobart,  ccix. 
Virginia,  Address  of  Bishop  Madison 
of,  obtained,  xviii. 
Journals  of  1 785-87, 1789,1791, 
1792,1794,  1813,  1814  (Spe- 
cial), 1816,    1818,    1819,  ob- 
tained, xviii. 
Journals  of   1788,    1790,    1793, 
1 795-181 2, 1 8  i4(not  Special), 
1815,1817,1820, 1821,1822, 
not  obtained,  xix. 
Library    of   Commonwealth    of, 
Ixxxviii. 


W ADDELL,  Henry,  cxv. 
Wainwright,    Jonathan     Mayhew, 
xlvii,  lii. 

Sermon  on  Hobart,  by,  clxiii. 
Waldenses,  The,  cxxxvi. 
Walker,  John,  145. 
Wallace,  John  Bradford,  233. 
Wallace,  Joshua  Maddox,  31,  69. 
Washington,  Laying  out  of  the  City 

of,  201. 
Watkinson  Library,  Hartford,  Con- 

ne<Eticut,  Ixxxix. 
Way,    Mr.,    married    daughter    of 

Joshua  Hobart,  cii. 
Webbe,  William  T.,  1. 
Webster  &  Co.,  Paper  published  by, 

176,  295. 
Wells,  Hubert  Wetmore,  Ixxxvi. 
Westcott  &  Thomas,  335. 

C  396  ] 


INDEX 

Western   New  York,  Journals   of, 

obtained,  Ixxxviii. 
Western    Reserve    in    Ohio,  The, 

clxxxviii. 
Wetherall,  Rebecca  Pratt,  262. 
Wheatley,  Dr.,  cxcii. 
Wheaton,  Dr.,  xxv. 
Whig  Society,  Princeton,  cxi,  32. 
Whiskey  Rebellion,  75,  89. 
White,  Alexander,  141,  142,  216. 
White,  Catherine  A.,  Ixi. 
White,  Diploma  of  Alexander,  142. 
White,  Elizabeth  and  Mary,  344. 
White,  George  H.,  Ixi. 
White,  J.  Brinton,  Ixi. 
White,  Maria  H.,  Ixi. 
White,  Rebecca  H.,  Ixi. 
White,  Thomas  Henry,  344. 
White,  William,  Documents  con- 
cerning eleiStion  and  consecra- 
tion of,  xi,  xlvii. 
Presiding  Bishop,  xiv. 
Report  of,  xv. 

to  ask   for   Documents   in    Eng- 
land, xxv. 
Letter  to  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury from,  xxvii. 
Letter  from  Francis  Lister  Hawks 

to,  xxviii. 
Credentials  from,  to  Francis  Lis- 
ter Hawks,  XXXV. 
Message  from  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury to,  xxxviii,  xxxix. 
Letter  from  John  Coke  to,  Iviii. 
A  neighbour  of  Hannah  Hobart, 

ciii. 
confirms  Hobart,  1790,  cvi. 
offer  from,  to  Hobart,  155. 


INDEX 


White,  William,  joins  in  consecra- 
tion of  John  Henry  Hobart, 
cxxiii,  and  of  Alexander  Viets 
Griswold,  cxxiv. 
Testimony  of,  to  worth  of  Ho- 
bart, clxxvi. 
Death  of,  xxviii. 

Memoir  of,  by  James  Grant  Wil- 
son, xxxii. 
Memoirs  of,  xiii. 
Memorial   from   descendants   of, 

Ix. 
Letters  and  Papers  of,  liii,  Ixvii. 
Sketch  of,  155. 

White,  William,  Jr.,  248. 

White,  William, descendant  of  Bish- 
op White,  Ixi. 

White,  Mrs.  William,  326. 
Death  of,  344. 

Whitehouse,  Henry  John,  1. 

Whitney,  George  Sherwood,  Ixxxv. 

Whittaker,  Epher,  ci,  cii. 

Whittingham,  William  Rollinson, 
xlv,  xh'iii,  xlix. 

Widdifield,  Mary  Singer,  cci. 

Willey,  Junius  M.,  liv. 

William  and  Mary, College  of,cxxiii. 

Williams,  Channing  Moore,  Conse- 
cration of,  Ivi. 

Williams,  Eleazar,  cxlii,  cxliii. 

Williams,  Jeannie  P.,  cciv. 

Williams,  John,  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Historical  Society,  1. 


Williams,  John,  appointed  on  Com- 
mission to  continue  List  of 
Bishop  Burgess,  liv. 
offers  resolution  that  documents  be 
entrusted  to  William  Stevens 
Perry,  Ivi. 
on  Committee  on  Documents  and 

Papers,  Ivii. 
Report  from,  lix. 
appointed  a  member  of  Commis- 
sion on  Church  Archives,  1880, 
Ixxv,  xci. 
Willing,  Thomas,  39. 
Wilson,  James   Grant,  Centennial 
History  of  the  Diocese  of  New 
York  by,  clxxxv. 
appointed  member  of  Commission 
on  Archives,  1892,  Ixxix,  xcii. 
Wiltbank,    Elizabeth    Macpherson, 

Ixi. 
Winston,  Frederick  S.,  1. 
Winthrop,  John,  Letter  from  Samuel 
Auchmuty  to,  5. 
Note  on,  8. 
Winthrop,     Robert     Charles,    ap- 
pointed member  of  Commission 
on  Church  Archives,  1868,  Ixiv, 
xci. 
Witherspoon,  John,  cvii,  103. 
Wyatt,  William  Edward,  Sermon  on 
Hobart,  by,  clxvii. 

Yellow  Fever,  The,  41. 
Young,  William,  278. 


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